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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 GiESCO 2013 9 GiESCO 2013 – Session 6: Training systems 9 Impact of leaf to fruit ratio on grape composition in Merlot grapevines

Impact of leaf to fruit ratio on grape composition in Merlot grapevines

Abstract

Adjustments of viticultural practices are required to adapt to climate change. In particular, vineyard management that vary the fruit to leaf area ratio is an important option to maintain and enhance fruit quality. Fruiting capacity and berry composition of grapevine are dependent on canopy area. Severe summer pruning (SSP), and upper (ULR) and lower leaf removal (LLR) treatments were applied to Merlot during the 2011/2012 growing season, partial defoliation altered significantly the leaf area/fruit ratio. However, at harvest, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity and total anthocyanin did not significantly differ (p>0.05) between treatments. Nevertheless, the most extreme defoliation treatment (SSP) delayed ripening for two weeks and the sensory attribute “green” was given to the wine produced from these grapes.

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Publication date: 07/09/2026

Issue: GiESCO 2013

Type: Poster

Authors

Elsa-Marie Savarino1, Yanan Hao3, John Blackman2, Dennis Greer2, Bruno Holzapfel2,*

1 University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, URVVC-SE EA 2069, Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, F-51687 Reims Cedex 2, France

2 National Wine & Grape Industry Centre, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW2678, Australia

3 Geisenheim Research Center, Von-Lade-Strasse 1, 65366 Geisenheim, Germany

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Keywords

Vitis vinifera L. Merlot, partial defoliation, leaf area, berry composition, sensory analysis

Tags

GiESCO | GiESCO 2013 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

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