186 Berry Quality and Photosynthate Partitioning in Response to Plant Growth Regulators in Grape

Abstract

The effects of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on berry maturation and photoassimilates partitioning were investigated. Five-year-old potted `Kyoho' grape grown under a non-heating glasshouse were used. TIBA (200 mg/L) and NAA (200 mg/L) were applied to clusters at the beginning of veraison (45 days after full bloom). TIBA application increased not only soluble solids concentration in the juice but also anthocyanin content of peel, compared with those of control. On the other hand, the application of NAA reduced berry growth and delayed the berry maturation with harder flesh, lower soluble solids, higher acidity and poor coloration. In order to examine the effect of both plant growth regulators on photoassimilates partitioning in plant tissues, the whole plants were fed with 13CO2 at 10 days and 20 days after application of TIBA and NAA. The 13C distribution of pericarp and peel in NAA application was found on the lowest among the treatments. However, there were no significant differences in the 13C distribution and 13C absorption rate of pericarps between TIBA and control. These results indicate that NAA weakened the sink activity in grape berries, resulted in smaller berry size and the delay of maturation, whereas the berry ripening induced by TIBA application could not be explained by the distribution of photoassimilates in grape berries.