Root restriction, under-trellis cover cropping, and rootstock modify vine size and berry composition of Cabernet Sauvignon

dc.contributor.authorHill, Brycen Thomasen
dc.contributor.committeechairWolf, Anthony K.en
dc.contributor.committeememberStewart, Amanda C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWelbaum, Gregory E.en
dc.contributor.departmentHorticultureen
dc.date.accessioned2017-03-03T09:00:29Zen
dc.date.available2017-03-03T09:00:29Zen
dc.date.issued2017-03-02en
dc.description.abstractVineyards in the Mid-Atlantic often have large, vigorous vines that can be costly to manage and produce inadequate fruit for wine production. Dense canopies increase the incidence of fungal disease, require greater allocation of resources to manage, and inhibit fruit development. The primary objective of these studies was to determine effective vine-size modification treatments that would optimize fruit quality, while reducing labor and chemical control. Research factors included root manipulation, under-trellis ground cover, and rootstock. Treatment levels were root bag (RBG) or no root manipulation (NRM); under-trellis cover crop (CC) or herbicide strip (HERB); and one of three rootstocks: 101-14, Riparia Gloire, or 420-A. Effects of these treatments were measured in two experiments: Experiment I compared combinations of all three treatments, while Experiment II explored the individual effects of root restriction using root bags of varying volumes. Root restriction consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce vegetative growth and vine water status. In the first experiment fruit-zone photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was increased by 234% in RBG vines. Timed canopy management tasks indicated that RBG canopies required about half the labor time of NRM canopies. Anthocyanin concentration and total phenolic content were increased by 20% and 19% respectively in RBG fruit. CC increased fruit-zone PPFD by 62%, and increased soluble solids and color compounds. The 420-A rootstock reduced potassium uptake, resulting in lower must potassium concentration. Results demonstrated that these treatments significantly reduce vegetative growth in a humid climate, decrease management labor, and produce higher quality fruit.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralVineyards in the Mid-Atlantic often have large, vigorous vines that can be costly to manage and produce inadequate fruit for wine production. Dense canopies increase the incidence of fungal disease, require greater allocation of resources to manage, and inhibit fruit development. The primary objective of these studies was to determine effective vine-size modification treatments that would optimize fruit quality, while reducing labor and chemical control. Research factors included root manipulation, under-trellis ground cover, and rootstock. Treatment levels were root bag (RBG) or no root manipulation (NRM); under-trellis cover crop (CC) or herbicide strip (HERB); and one of three rootstocks: 101-14, Riparia Gloire, or 420-A. Effects of these treatments were measured in two experiments: Experiment I compared combinations of all three treatments, while Experiment II explored the individual effects of root restriction using root bags of varying volumes. Root restriction consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce vegetative growth and vine water status. Sunlight exposure to grape berries was significantly increased in RBG vines. Timed canopy management tasks indicated that RBG canopies required about half the labor time of NRM canopies. Sugar and color concentration were both increased in RBG fruit. CC also increased sunlight exposure, as well as sugar and color concentration. The 420-A rootstock reduced potassium uptake, resulting in lower must potassium concentration. Results demonstrated that these treatments significantly reduce vegetative growth in a humid climate, decrease management labor, and produce higher quality fruit.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:10013en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/75223en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectgrapeen
dc.subjectgrapevineen
dc.subjectVitis viniferaen
dc.subjectvigoren
dc.subjectfruit compositionen
dc.subjectroot restrictionen
dc.subjectcover cropen
dc.subjectrootstocken
dc.subjectviticultureen
dc.subjectanthocyaninen
dc.subjectphenolicen
dc.subjectstem water potentialen
dc.subjectCabernet Sauvignonen
dc.subjectwater stressen
dc.subjectpotassiumen
dc.subjectyeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN)en
dc.subjectcrop loaden
dc.titleRoot restriction, under-trellis cover cropping, and rootstock modify vine size and berry composition of Cabernet Sauvignonen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineHorticultureen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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