TRAINING SYSTEM AFFECTS PERFORMANCE OF TABLE GRAPE CULTIVARS

Abstract

Each of the grape cultivars [Vitis species, (L) Batch], `Concord', `Himrod', `Challenger', `Reliance', `Glenora', `Moored', planted June 1983, and `Mars' planted Spring, 1987, was trained to the 4-cane Kniffin (KN) and the Geneva Double Curtain (GDC) systems. Yield per vine, pruning weight, number of nodes, cluster weight, number of berries per cluster, berry weight, and percent soluble solids were recorded. Vines from `Reliance' trained to the KN system produced fruit with significantly higher percent soluble solids than did vines trained to the GDC. No significant differences in percent soluble solids were observed between the two training systems for the other cultivars. `Concord' produced more kg/vine of pruning weight when trained to the KN system than when trained to the GDC. Pruning weight did not differ significantly between the two training systems for the other cultivars. Cultivars more productive (yield/vine) on the GDC trellis were `Concord', `Himrod', `Reliance' and `Moored' whereas `Challenger' was more productive when vines were trained to the KN system. No differences between the two training systems were observed for `Glenora' or `Mars'.