Evaluate crop and canopy management strategies to minimize fruit acid content and improve fruit composition. Training system, crop load, and canopy management studies were conducted at cooperating growers’ vineyards on several different cultivars in CT, IA, MI, NE, NY, and WI. Extensive data were collected in all locations, including pruning weights, bud and shoot counts, yield, fruit chemistry, canopy density, time required to conduct cultural practices, and light distribution within the canopy.
- Effects of Spacing, training and pruning on vine performance and fruit quality of St. Croix. Crop yield for St. Croix in Connecticut was relatively independent of training methods. Winter bud kill had a larger impact on cane pruned vines than spur pruned vines, and fruit chemistry and berry size was relatively constant among treatments. Francis Ferrandino, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
-
VSP-trained Frontenac vines at Snus Hill Winery in Madrid, IA. Photo by Diana Cochran. - Iowa training systems trial. In Iowa, different vine training systems such as VSP, Scott Henry, and top wire cordon showed differences in yield among Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette. Fruit quality was similar across training systems. Diana Cochran and Gail Nonnecke, Iowa State University
- Marquette crop load and training system trial for Michigan. Crop load experiments demonstrated that Marquette has potential for good yield per vine without compromising fruit quality. In addition, Marquette in this study showed lower acidity, indicating that this cultivar may respond well to favorable site selection. Paolo Sabbatini and Pat Murad, Michigan State University
- Marquette, Frontenac, St. Croix, and La Crescent training trial in Nebraska. For northern grape cultivars in Nebraska, most performed better on High Cordon or Geneva Double Curtain (GDC) systems. High yields and soluble solids in GDC systems show better canopy structure with more sunlight penetration. Paul Read and Stephen Gamet, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- New York Frontenac training trial. Frontenac vines trained to Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) had lower yields than Top Wire Cordon (TWC) and Umbrella Kniffin (UK). Fruit chemistry was not affected by different training systems. Tim Martinson and Chrislyn Particka, Cornell University
- New York Marquette training trial. Marquette had higher yields in UK and TWC than vines trained to VSP. Fruit chemistry was not impacted by the larger crop on UK and TWC systems. Tim Martinson and Chrislyn Particka, Cornell University
- Recovery from frost injury in New York training systems trials in 2015. Tim Martinson and Chrislyn Particka, Cornell University
- Impact of shading on Frontenac and Marquette fruit composition. Tim Martinson and Chrislyn Particka, Cornell University
- Brianna, Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette training trial. Amaya Atucha and Madeline Wimmer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette Crop load trials in Wisconsin. Amaya Atucha and Madeline Wimmer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- North Dakota Research Update. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti
Resources
- Nuts and Bolts of Canopy Management, Mike White and Tim Martinson Chat transcript from noon session Q & A from post-webinar survey
- Impact of crop load & training systems on viticultural & enological performances of Marquette and Frontenac grown in Michigan & New York, Tim Martinson, Cornell Univ. & Paolo Sabbatini, Michigan State Univ. PDF of slides