Impact of pinching, lateral shoots removal and defoliation on growth, yield and bunch quality of Autumn Crisp grapevines

Author : Aisha, S.A. Gaser, Ashraf, R. A. Farag and Thoraua, S.A. Abo El-Wafa

This inquiry was carried out for two consecutive seasons (2019 –2020) in a private vineyard located at El-Khatatba region, Monufyia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of pinching, lateral shoots removal and defoliation on growth, yield, and bunch quality of Autumn Crisp seedless grape. Seven treatments were carried out as follows: control, pinching the main shoots, lateral shoots removal, defoliation, pinching the main shoots + lateral shoots removal, pinching the main shoots + defoliation and lateral shoots removal + defoliation. Pinching the main shoots and lateral shoots removal treatments were applied just after fruit set stage, while basal defoliation treatment was applied at two weeks after fruit set stage. The results showed that all pinching, lateral shoots removal and defoliation treatments either alone or in combination among them had the best results in comparison with control in both seasons. In addition, pinching the main shoots + defoliation application achieved the best results in growth traits, carbohydrates %, nitrogen %, in canes, as well as improving the yield, physical and chemical characteristics of bunches and berries of Autumn Crisp grapevines in both seasons.

Keywords : Grape, Autumn Crisp, pinching, lateral shoots removal, defoliation and carbohydrates.,

Received:11/2/2022 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 12/12/2022 12:00:00 AM