Fruit-bearing capacity of Prokupac cv. in conditions of Niš vineyard area

Abstract

Prokupac is an autochthonous grapevine variety primarily cultivated in the south and southeast of Serbia. Its biological characteristics make its cultivation possible even without the use of trellises, when in goblet-like form, which significantly facilitates its cultivation. Quality wines are produced from this variety. Given its production importance, Prokupac variety was the research topic of a number of examinations aimed at raising production rates and the selection of the clones with enhanced economic and technological characteristics. This paper illustrates some basic indicators of yield potential and the quality of Prokupac variety, cultivated in Niš vineyard area. Fruit-bearing capacity and grape quality were analyzed during 2009 and 2010 in the collection vineyard of the Center for Viticulture and Winemaking in Niš. Apart from determining the median dates of the most important phenophases of growth and development, fruit-bearing capacity and grape quality of Prokupac variety were determined through the screening of the following indicators: the number and precentage of activated bubs, number and percentage of fruit-bearing shoots, fertility coefficient, grape yield per square unit, number of berries, average cluster mass, sugar content and total acid content in grapes. The main indicators for the quality of Prokupac variety in this research show that this variety belongs to a group of varieties suitable for quality wine production. The average length of vegetation period is 170 days. The average yield of Prokupac variety during the two-year period varied between 8.612 and 12.779 kg/ha. Sugar content remained satisfactory (18-20%). The acquired study results show that Prokupac variety can be successfully cultivated in the conditions of Niš vineyard area.

Keywords

• variety
• phenophases of development
• grape quality