Evaluating the Effects of Early Pruning, Leaf Removal, and Shoot Thinning on ‘MidSouth’ Grapes over Two Consecutive Vintages in South Mississippi

Abstract

Yield components and fruit composition of ‘MidSouth’, an interspecific hybrid bunch grape (Vitis spp.) with relatively low total soluble solids and high titratable acidity, was evaluated in south Mississippi to determine if treatments consisting of early pruning, early pruning with pre-bloom leaf removal, normal pruning with post-fruit set leaf removal, or normal pruning in one study, or post-fruit set leaf removal, post-fruit set shoot thinning, or neither leaf removal nor shoot thinning in a second study could improve these qualities. Early pruning with leaf removal reduced berries per cluster, cluster weights, yields, and Ravaz index. Early pruning treatments had inconsistent results from year to year, and normal pruning treatments were not often significantly different. Shoot thinned vines had lower yields and Ravaz index and higher total soluble solids. Second study leaf removal vines had lower juice pH in 2020 and lower yield per vine in 2021. These findings show that ‘MidSouth’ can be altered by these practices, but they did not appear to sufficiently alter ‘MidSouth’ quality. Thus, early pruning with or without leaf removal, normal pruning with leaf removal, and shoot thinning are not recommended for ‘MidSouth’ in south Mississippi, and normal pruning without these practices should be continued.