Influence of Shoot density in relation to leaf area, yield and quality of Tas-A-Ganesh grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted on Dog Ridge rootstock

Abstract

Seven year old vines of Tas-A-Ganesh grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted on Dog Ridge rootstock (Vitis champani) were shoot thinned for three years continuously with different shoot retention treatments viz., 30, 45, 60 and 75 shoots per vine. The forward pruning of vines was carried out during the month of October. The shoot length, cane diameter and inter nodal length was measured to study the relation with bunch characters. The vines having 30 shoots had the highest shoot length, cane diameter, internode length and leaf area per shoot as compared to the other treatments. The increase in number of shoots per vine from 30 to 75 resulted into increase in yield per vine but reduced the berry diameter. The data recorded on various parameters suggests that to achieve the exportable quality bunches, the number of bunches per vine needs to be standardized. The relationship between LAI and brix yield suggested the importance of LAI studies in canopy management for yield and quality improvement.