Effects of the ripening conditions in the vineyard on growth and yield components in the following season

Abstract

In order to assess the effects of reserves level on yield components in the following season, two leaf/fruit ratio were created on three trials in 2000 in the vineyard in Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne for different varieties. Significant differences did not exist for all the situations but could affect the leaf area as well as the potential photosynthetic activity in the following season. Hedging weights were sometimes reduced up to 30%. Yield components such as the number of primary shoots, the number of inflorescences per plant and the number of flowers per inflorescence could be affected in 2001. Analysis of the effects of growth on fruit set showed that whereas the number of berries per shoot appeared related to the leaf area on the main stem, the growth of laterals, also enhanced by good ripening conditions during the previous season, could be detrimental to seed formation. Yield reduction reached 30 % for Gewurztraminer but could also be observed on Chardonnay or Pinot noir.

Keywords

• Vitis vinifera
• reserves
• growth
• yield components