PRUNING & TRAINING SYSTEMS

Question 1

What is the difference in amount of buds between cane and spur pruning?

Answer 1

Cane: 4 or more per cane
Spur: max 4 per spur

Question 2

What could be a reason not to choose spur pruning?

Answer 2

Because the closest buds are less fruitful than the buds at the end.

Question 2

What could be a reason not to choose spur pruning?

Answer 2

Because the closest buds are less fruitful than the buds at the end.

Question 3

What is an optimal time to prune?

Answer 3

In the fall or winter when temperatures and infection rates are lower

Question 4

In which weather conditions is it strongly advised not to prune?

Answer 4

During rain

Question 5

Name one disadvantage of ‘old school’ pruning

Answer 5

(Assumed) less sap flow in the trunk of the vine due to necrosis from pruning wound

Question 6

What is the risk of having ‘arms’ that are too long?

Answer 6

1. Crossing canes will cause a ‘window’ in the canopy. And increased foliar density at the place where they cross, increasing risk of microclimate that can inhibit diseases like botrytis

Question 7

Why is it a good idea to leave two extra buds on vines in area’s with increased frost risk?

Answer 7

In spring the vines will push the ‘extra’ buds at the end of the cane first. When spring frost hits it will only affect the buds that have already pushed. Hopefully the rest of the buds will not have pushed yet and stay out of harm.

Question 8

What is a disadvantage of ‘new school’ pruning?

Answer 8

This type of pruning will cause more buds in spring, and so more work during bud rubbing period. Since winter pruning can be spread out over 3 months and the spring vineyard work have to be done in 3 weeks you could decide that that is too much extra work.

Question 9

What is the result of late pruning? Do you have to take extra measurements in spring?

Answer 9

Late pruning means late ripening, means increased risk of bad weather during harvest time (later). So you need to do some leaf pulling early in the spring in order to speed up the ripening

Question 10

What diameter cut will be regarded as a big cut?

Answer 10

2+ cm

Question 11

What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 11

CO2 + H2O + energy –> C6H12O6 + O2

Question 12

What is the function of photosynthesis? (3)

Answer 12

Plant growth
Grape maturation
Storage starch (sugar)

Question 13

What is the optimal temperature for photosynthesis? At which temp does it slow down or stop?

Answer 13

Ideal: 25-30C
Slowing down from 35+C
Stopped: 40-42C

Question 14

Why is leaf positioning important?

Answer 14

Because of optimising photosynthesis. A second layer of leaves only functions at 60-65%

Question 15

What is meant with the ‘sink’ effect?

Answer 15

It means that the energy goes to ‘sinks’/’outlets’ of the plant and thus needs to increase it’s production. Photosynthesis is significantly higher when there are bunches (sink/outlet) present.

Question 16

Which training system is more efficient for light interception and thus promoting photosynthesis? VSP or Gobelet?

Answer 16

Gobelet, all leaves are in the first light reception layer

Question 17

What is the goal of a training system? (4)

Answer 17

Control vigor
Improve leaf/fruit microclimate
Optimize leaf area
Increase grape quality

Question 18

What is the relation of vine density, leaf area and photosynthesis?

Answer 18

The higher the density the more leaf area and maximises the photosynthesis

Question 19

What kind of spray can be used as ‘sunscreen’ for leaves and grapes?

Answer 19

Kaolinite

Question 20

How much leaves does a shoot need in order to produce sugar?

Answer 20

8

Question 21

From which slope % onwards do you need terraces or up-down rows?

Answer 21

10% slope

Question 22

Name 4 things to do or not to do when erosion is a high risk in your vineyard

Answer 22

Use herbicide, not tilling
Avoid ripping
Mulch row line
Mow the inter-row

Question 23

Why can an excess of vigour problem not be solved with close planting?

Answer 23

A high visor vine needs more space or a decided canopy or wide spacing. Otherwise it wil just make the canopy more dense and at risk for diseases due to microclimate in the canopy

Question 24

How do you prune if a young vine that does not reach the wire in the first year?

Answer 24

Cut back to two buds

Question 25

Where are vineguards/grotubes used for?

Answer 25

To encourage growth for newly planted vines.

Question 26

What is ‘lignification’?

Answer 26

Cane ripening resulting in hardening of the wood, causes woodiness (brown parts instead of green)

Question 27

Why do we prune a vine?

Answer 27

Because a vine is a liana. If not pruned it stretches out and becomes exhausted. It will produce a lot of wood and the vine will die rapidly after a few years

Question 28

At what time does winter pruning take place?

Answer 28

A few weeks after harvest till mid-april (before the leaves merge)

Question 29

What happens if you do the winter pruning late? Name 1 good and one risk

Answer 29

Good: you delay bud burst and thus risk of springfrost
Risk: you delay the ripening moment and thus risk of bad weather during harvesttime

Question 30

Name one good thing and one risk for late winterpruning

Answer 30

Good: delay bud burst and thus risk of springfrost
Risk: delay ripening. Bad weather during harvest time can become a problem

Question 31

When winter pruning. Which varieties do you prune first, the late or early ripening ones?

Answer 31

The late varieties because you will gain a few days on the vegetative cycle

Question 32

In terms of biomass. When (g/vine) has a vine low or high vigor

Answer 32

Low <250 g/vine
High >450 g/vine

Question 33

The technique layering increases risk of phylloxera, why?

Answer 33

Because there is no rootstock to protect the scion