Full Length Research Paper

Influence of shoot topping on yield and quality of Vitis vinifera L.

A. Dardeniz¹*, I. Yıldırım², Z. Gökbayrak¹ and A. Akçal¹

¹Çanakkale Onsekizmart Universty, Agriculture Faculty, Hoticulture Department, 17020, Çanakkale, Turkey.

²Çanakkale Onsekizmart Universty, Agriculture Faculty, Plant Protection Department, 17020, Çanakkale, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adardeniz@comu.edu.tr. Tel: + (90) 0286 2180018/1391. Fax: + (90) 0286 2180545.

Accepted 21 July, 2008

This study was carried out in a 20 year old spur pruned Karasakız (Kuntra) vineyard during the 2003 and 2004 growth season. Vines were topped at 1, 3 and 5 nodes beyond the last cluster on the main shoot. Yield and quality parameters were analyzed to determine the effects of shoot topping. The results showed that weather conditions had more statistically important effects compared to the topping level. One (1) node topping resulted in more loss of yield due to increased vegetative growth.

Key words: Vitis vinifera L., shoot topping, yield, quality, canopy management, shoot topping, fruit set, yield components, fruit composition.