Influence of Pruning Levels on the productivity of Grape Cultivar “Salty” (Vitis vinifera) in Sweida province

Tarek Bashar Abu Assali
General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research ,Administration of Horticulture.
Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University
2018

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted in one of the vineyards in Sweida province during 2016-2017, to determine the exact number of remaining nodes per shoot, in the absence of farmers knowledge about the nodes to be left and not apply themixed pruning (spur and shoot). 36 vines were pruned according to three replicates and four levels of pruning (4-6-8) nodes / shoot in addition to the control, which is the pruning depending on farmer experience. Which is usually based on reducing tangles and pruning the rest of shoots at different lengths without leaving a replacement spurs. The pruning treatment of four nodes / shoot was significantly higher in terms of fruitfulness percentage and fertility index (53.54% and 95.28, respectively), While the treatment of eight nodes /shoot significantly higher in terms of burst buds percentage (58.33%). In addition, the pruning treatment of four nodes / shoot was significantly higher in terms of shoot length, shoot thickness, summer shoots per cane, leaves per shoot and leaf area, the average of these indicators was (117.11cm_ 0.64cm_ 9.66_ 21.22_ 147.6cm2respectively). While, the treatment of four nodes/ shoot needs more days after full blooming. Pruning treatment of four nodes / shoot was significantly higher in terms of number of clusters/vine, cluster weight, berries peduncle weight, cluster length, number of berries/cluster, cluster index and compression factor, the average of these indices was (37.67- 394.4 kg- 8.95 g- 24.67 cm- 87.56- 42.36- 3.49 respectively). Likewise, pruning treatment of four nodes / shoot was significantly higher in terms of 100 berries weight, berry firmness, juice percentage and titratable acidity (632.5 g- 1.55- 65.65- 0.038 respectively). While pruning treatment of eight nodes / shoot was significantly higher in terms of number of berries / 100g, pH, TSS, total sugar (48- 5.09-29.29- 26.36 respectively). Four nodes / shoot pruning treatment was significantly higher in terms of cluster and berry appearance, color, taste,firmness, homogeneity and juicy. In terms of productivity (kg/vine) and Pruning wood (kg/plant) the four nodes / shootpruning treatment was significantly higherthan the other teatments (12.56 kg- 2.94 kg respectively). While the pruning treatments of four and six nodes / shoot were significantly higher than the other treatments in terms of Ravaz index where it reached (4.26 and 4.56 respectively).

Key words: Grapevine, Salty, Pruning, productivity, Ravaz index, Total Soluble Solids, Total Sugar.

GCSAR