Simulated Abiotic Injury Alters Yields of Southern Interspecific Hybrid Grape Cultivars

Abstract

Climate change, including more volatile weather and longer growing seasons, is causing stress on grapevines (Vitis spp.). A change in harvest timing of wine grapes can have significant consequences. Thus, two methods (crop forcing and complete removal of green tissue) were employed to simulate abiotic vine injury. The harvest of bunch grapes in Mississippi occurs during July, a very hot month. ‘Miss Blanc’ and ‘Villard Blanc’ had four different crop forcing treatments imposed to determine yield amount and harvest timing. All treatments reduced yield. Harvest was delayed by 50 days, a potentially positive shift that was not enough to escape high temperatures. ‘Villard Blanc’ had no flower or fruit development after crop forcing treatments in May and June. ‘Miss Blanc’ yields were also significantly reduced by these treatments. Removal of green tissue to simulate injury from weather events such as frost, freeze, wind, or hail in both Mississippi and Oklahoma revealed that lost growth could reduce yields from 19% to 81%, which could influence grape grower management decisions.

Keywords

• abiotic stress
• climate change
• crop forcing
• harvest timing
• Miss Blanc
• Neptune
• Villard Blanc