The Vine

Question 1

Why do most grape growers now use cuttings instead of layering?

Answer 1

Due to the risk of phylloxera.

Question 2

Describe Buds

Answer 2

These form in the joint between the leaf and the shoot. Once formed, they mature inside their casing during the growing season so that, by the end of the year, each bud contains in miniature all the structures that will become a new shoot.

Question 3

What is cross fertilization?

Answer 3

This is when pollen from the male part of the flower of the vine is transferred to the female part of the flower of another vine and fertilisation occurs.

Question 4

What are the two most common ways of creating a new grape variety?

Answer 4

Crossings

Hybrids

Question 5

Describe flowers and berries

Answer 5

Flowers are the vines reproductive organs that have both male and female parts. Each flower that is successfully pollinated will become a berry, then a bunch of grapes.

Question 6

What is the function of the roots?

Answer 6

To absorb water and nutrients from the soil, anchor the vine, and store carbohydrates to allow the vine to survive the winter.

Question 7

What is glucose in relation to a grapevine

Answer 7

Glucose is a sugar that is used to support vine growth and make ripe grapes taste sweet.

Question 8

Describe leaves

Answer 8

These are the plants engine. They are principally responsible for photosynthesis.

Question 9

List the ‘Green Parts of the Vine’

Answer 9

Shoot
Buds
Tendrils
Flowers and Berries
Leaves

Question 10

Vine variety and Grape variety are synonyms. What is another common term?

Answer 10

Cultivar

Question 11

What is permanent wood?

Answer 11

The wood that is more than one year old. The permanent wood is made up of the trunk and, when present, the arms of the vine.

Question 12

Why would a grape grower cross fertilize?

Answer 12

To produce grape varieties that are better able to thrive in certain climates and soil conditions, as well as varieties with improved disease resistance, and those able to deliver a higher quality or quantity of grapes.

Question 13

What is one year old wood?

Answer 13

Shoots turn woody during the winter after they have grown. The following Spring they become one yr old wood and the buds that formed on them the previous yr grow into shoots.

Question 14

Describe a Shoot

Answer 14

The principal structure of new growth. Along the length of each shoot there are leaves, buds, tendrils, and flowers or berries.

Question 15

Name two methods of propagating vines.

Answer 15

Cutting

Layering

Question 16

What is Layering?

Answer 16

Layering takes place in the vineyard. A cane is bent down and a section of it is buried in the ground. The buried section takes root and, once these roots are established, the cane linking the new growth to the original plant is cut.

Question 17

What are crossings?

Answer 17

When a new variety is produced from two parents of the same species.

Most commonly used with V. Vinifera

Ex: Pinotage (Pinot Noir x Cinsault) Muller Thurgau (Riesling x Madeline Royale)

Question 18

Describe Tendrils

Answer 18

Vines are not able to support themselves, so they use tendrils to grip a supporting structure in order to stay upright. Once a tendril senses that it has touched a structure, such as a trellis wire, it will wind itself tightly around the wire in order to keep the shoot upright.

Question 19

What is Grafting? Name two types.

Answer 19

`the technique used to join a rootstock to a V. Vinifera variety

Bench
Head

Question 20

What is photosynthesis

Answer 20

The process by which plants use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Question 21

Describe Head Grafting:

Answer 21

Head grafting is used if the grape grower with an established vineyard decides to switch to a different grape variety between seasons. The existing vine is cut back to its trunk and a bud or cutting is grafted on to the trunk.

(Happens in vineyard)

Question 22

Ture or False: When cutting or layering the new vine is identical to it’s parent.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

What is a clone?

Answer 23

A propagated vine that goes through natural mutation creating a particular set of unique characteristics. The difference between clones is often small, but in some cases can lead to a new varietal. (ex: Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are both mutations of Pinot Noir)

Question 24

What are Hybrids?

Answer 24

A hybrid is a vine who’s parents come from two different species.

Hybrids and american vine crossings have a crucial role in modern grape growing as they are used throughout the world as rootstocks.

Question 25

What is the benefit of head grafting over planting a new vine?

Answer 25

Successful head grafting will produce fruit the next vintage. A newly planted vine takes a minimum of three years to be able to produce a commercial crop.

Question 26

Describe Bench Grafting:

Answer 26

An automated process that is carried out by specialist plant nurseries. Short sections of the cane from both V. Vinifera varieties and the rootstock variety are joined together by machine and stored in a warm environment to encourage the two parts to fuse together.

Question 27

What is Cutting?

Answer 27

A cutting is a section of a vine shoot that is planted and then grows as a new plant. This method is widely used in commercial nurseries that sell vines to growers.

Question 28

All vines have a similar structure. This can be divided into ___ sections. What are they?

Answer 28

4 sections:

green parts of the vine, one-year-old wood, permanent wood, and roots