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Evaluating Cultural Practices for Recovery from Cold Damage in Grapevines

Todaro, Thomas Mason
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1479743290325813

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Horticulture and Crop Science.
The grape and wine industry contributes nearly $800 million to Ohio’s economy each year. However, the economic sustainability of this industry is limited by climatic constraints, primarily seasonal freezing temperatures. In 2014 and 2015, Ohio vineyards experienced significant cold damage, with the grape species Vitis vinifera sustaining bud and trunk injuries and even vine death. Due to lack of published research on managing injured vines, growers have often relied on anecdotal information. Mitigation of freezing injury could be achieved, in part, through cultural practices such as proper cane size and training selection for trunk renewal of recovering vines. The purpose of this research is to better understand the mechanisms responsible for freezing tolerance (FT) of economically important V. vinifera wine grape cultivars. My aim was to identify strategies to mitigate freezing injury in grapevines and to recommend best methods for trunk renewal in regions prone to freezing damage. Specifically, the objectives of this thesis were to: 1) evaluate the impact of cane morphology on FT of bud and vascular tissues in relation to water content, carbohydrate concentrations and anatomical structures of V. vinifera Cabernet franc, and 2) evaluate several training systems for trunk renewal ii including cost, growth, yield, and fruit quality in three important cultivars in Ohio. In the first study (Chapter 2), the research vineyard in Wooster was exposed to multiple freeze events of -20°C or lower in 2015, resulting in complete damage of above ground V. vinifera Cabernet franc. Shoots (suckers), originating from spurs located at the trunk base, had large and medium (normal) sizes based on morphological differences in internode diameter, weight, number and length of shoot laterals. These canes were collected monthly from August 2015 through April 2016 to determine FT, water content, carbohydrate concentrations, and anatomical features of bud and vascular tissues. Large canes exhibited lower FT and had more numerous anatomical tissues (phloem, xylem) than medium canes. Water content and carbohydrate concentrations did not differ between cane sizes. However, carbohydrate concentrations were higher in medium than large canes when expressed per vascular tissue unit. It is suggested that the reduced size and number of the vascular tissues and high concentration of sugars per vascular tissue unit may have contributed to the increased FT in medium canes. In 2015 and 2016, another field study (Chapter 3) was conducted with three cultivars, Cabernet franc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir grown in a commercial vineyard to evaluate various combinations of training systems, pruning types (cane and spur), and trunk and cane numbers. Spur pruned vines consistently had iii the highest bud, shoot, and cluster counts resulting in the highest yields. Cane pruned vines had the most optimum leaf area to crop weight ratio and produced the most mature fruit; however, they required the longest retraining time. Vines trained with the fewest renewed trunks in year 1 had the largest trunk diameter in year 2, which is not desirable. It is concluded that trunk quality (morphology) and quantity (number) is critical for vine rehabilitation after winter damage, and the fan training system produced the most optimum renewed trunks. Practically, grape growers will benefit from this research by implementing the best practices for trunk renewal by training all shoots (suckers) using a fan system in year 1, and selecting and retaining 4 trunks and 4 canes with optimum size and removing “bull” canes in year 2. This new knowledge will advance our understanding of FT by developing new strategies to mitigate freezing damage in grapevines. Ultimately, the findings from this research will enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of grape production in Ohio.
Imed Dami (Advisor)
163 p.
Horticulture
Grapevine; Cultural practices; Freezing tolerance; Carbohydrate; Anatomy; Training system; Pruning, LT50

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Todaro, T. M. (2016). Evaluating Cultural Practices for Recovery from Cold Damage in Grapevines [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1479743290325813

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Todaro, Thomas. Evaluating Cultural Practices for Recovery from Cold Damage in Grapevines. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1479743290325813.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Todaro, Thomas. "Evaluating Cultural Practices for Recovery from Cold Damage in Grapevines." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1479743290325813

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1479743290325813
87
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.