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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Leaf removal to regulate fruit ripening in Cabernet-Sauvignon

Leaf removal to regulate fruit ripening in Cabernet-Sauvignon

Abstract

Aim: Under the effects of climate change it is becoming increasingly common to observe excessively fast sugar accumulation while anthocyanin and flavour development are lagging behind. Understanding the impact of different leaf removal techniques on ripening will provide vineyard managers with a canopy management strategy suitable for regulating sugar accumulation, phenolic maturity and flavour ripeness, thereby helping to mitigate these negative effects. The aim of this research was to quantify the impacts of three different leaf removal techniques on the canopy architecture and ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Methods and Results: Treatments were performed at veraison (~14 °Brix) and included: i) Control, ii) Leaf plucking around the bunches iii) Leaf plucking the top two thirds of shoots apical to the bunches, and iv) Shoot trimming. On the date of harvest no significant difference in grape TSS was observed between treatments. Other results including the effect of the treatments on acidity, anthocyanins, phenolics, and tannins were somewhat inconclusive.

Conclusions:

While various other studies have shown the potential to achieve slower grape sugar accumulation without affecting the concentration of anthocyanins, phenolics, and tannins, the results of this study do not indicate a decrease in the rate of grape sugar accumulation as a result of the investigated defoliation techniques.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Given the cost of implementing these treatments the results of this study do not support the use of these methods for the purpose of delaying fruit ripening in a hot Australian climate.

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Publication date: March 25, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type : Video

Authors

Patrick O’Brien1, Cassandra Collins1,2, Roberta De Bei1*

1The University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, PMB 1 Glen Osmond, 5064, South Australia, Australia.
2ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovative Wine Production, Waite Research Institute, PMB 1 Glen Osmond, 5064, South Australia, Australia

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Keywords

Delayed ripening, leaf removal, shoot trimming, canopy management, Cabernet-Sauvignon

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

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