Effect of Leaf Removal on Composition of Wine Grape Varieties Grown in Semiarid Tropical Climate of India

Removing leaves from cluster zone is one of the management practices followed to improve fruit composition in temperate wine grape growing countries. However, knowledge on canopy management practices to improve fruit and juice composition for quality wine making is still lacking in semiarid tropical regions of India. Due to ample sunlight availability during fruit growth in semiarid tropics, it is unclear whether the leaves have to be removed from cluster zone. In case the leaves have to be removed, the direction from which it has to be done is also important. Hence, this study was conducted to see the effect of leaf removal from two sides of canopy on fruit composition in two wine grape varieties. In Cabernet Sauvignon vines leaf removal from both east and west side of the canopyimproved fruit quality in terms of reduced pH, potassium, malic acid and increased phenolics. Nevertheless, removing leaves from eastern side was found to be better than western side, because clusters are exposed toexcess sunlight. However, in Sauvignon Blanc, leaf removal from east side improved most of the desirable fruit composition parameters, while leaf removal from west side reduced the fruit quality in terms of sugars, acids, pH, total phenols etc

Berry Weight, Quality and Cane Biochemistry Changes in Relation to Cane Thickness of Own-Rooted and Grafted 'Tas-A-Ganesh' Grape

A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of cane thickness on berry quality and other biochemical parameters in 'Tas-A-Ganesh' grape at National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, during the year 2008- 2009. Average bunch weight increased with increase in cane diameter. Own-rooted vines of cane thickness <6mm sprouted earlier than thicker canes. TSS of berries decreased with increase in berry size. Berries on grafted vines recorded lower TSS than on own-rooted vines. Biochemical parameters such as content of reducing sugars, carbohydrat and phenols were higher in grafted vines of cane thickness >10mm. Results indicate that thicker canes either on their own roots or on grafted vines are superior for yield and yield components, as also for physical properties of bunches and berries and total carbohydrate content of the canes

Breeding French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Resistance to Rust (Uromyces phaseoli Reben Wint.)

French bean is an important legume vegetable grown for its tender, green pods for both fresh consumption and processing. Rust, caused by Uromyces phaseoli, limits successful cultivation of this crop. Popular varieties like Contender, Pant Anupama, Pusa Parvathi, Arka Komal, Arka Suvidha, etc., are susceptible to this disease. The french bean variety, Arka Bold, having resistance to rust was used in hybridization with Arka Komal, a popular bush variety with high yield and slender, long green pods but susceptible to rust. Inheritance studies indicated that resistance to rust was controlled by a single, dominant gene. Pedigree method of breeding was followed for incorporating rust resistance in to commercially cultivated varieties. Breeding lines with resistance to rust were selected to F2 generation onwards. These were advanced up to F7, wherein, a promising line, (Arka Bold x Arka Komal) 99-17-2-1-4-12-3, with resistance to rust with high pod yield and good pod quality was selected and named Arka Anoop and released for commercial cultivation

Effect of Canopy Management Practices during forward Pruning on Berry Development and Photosynthesis in Tas-A-Ganesh Grapes

Effect of canopy manipulation during forward pruning on berry development and photosynthetic parameters was studied in Tas-A-Ganesh grape grafted onto Dogridge rootstock. Canopy manipulation including shoot thinning, leaf removal, shoot thinning with leaf removal, and shoot pinching, was done after forward pruning. Significant differences were observed in yield and quality. Shoot thinning to about 40 shoots per vine, with removal of three basal leaves, resulted in significantly higher yield, followed by that in shoot thinning alone. Lowest yield was recorded in the Control. Leaf removal drastically reduced bunch development affecting berry weight, diameter and length compared to other treatments. Among different canopy manipulation treatments, higher average bunch weight was recorded in shoot thinning plus leaf removal, whereas, lowest bunch weight was recorded with leaf removal alone. At harvest, the amount of total soluble solids in berries was low in leaf removal at pre-bloom stage, but increased in the treatment of shoot thinning with leaf removal, at the same stage. Different canopy manipulation treatments had significant impact on photosynthesis and transpiration rates. Overall results indicated that canopy manipulation practices such as shoot thinning, to retain 40 shoots per vine with or without leaf removal, followed by pinching, can be recommended to grape growers

Evaluation of commercial dipping oil for production of quality raisins from Thompson Seedless grapes

Grape growing in India is mainly confined to tropical peninsular regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that approximately 95% of total grapes are produced in Maharashtra and Karnataka alone. About 71 per cent of total grape production of the country is consumed as fresh and 27 per cent is processed into raisins. Grape drying is mainly concentrated in Sangli, Solapur and Nashik districts of Maharashtra and Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka. Generally, after dipping of grape bunches in solution of ethyl oleate and potassium carbonate (also known as Australian dip) the grape bunches are spread on nylon mesh inside grape drying shed and within 10-15 days drying process completed. There are several commercial products/substitutes for dip treatment available in the market. However, it has been reported that effectiveness of these products is variable. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to study effectiveness of a new commercial product for raisin production from Thompson Seedless grape variety in comparison to ethyl oleate. Grape bunches of Thompson Seedless were dipped in these solutions prior to drying inside raisin drying shed. Besides, the drying bunches were also sprayed with different concentrations of these products on 3rd and 5th days of drying. Observations were recorded on drying dynamics, browning index, colour intensity, content of phenols and tannins, sensory properties and quality parameters after storage for 4 months. It was observed that the dip treatment of Thompson Seedless grapes with a solution of 18 ml commercial product and 24 g potassium carbonate per litre of water for 2 minutes and sprays of 12 ml commercial product +16 g potassium carbonate per liter water on 3rd day and 6 ml commercial product + 8 g potassium carbonate per liter water on 5th day was found better than ethyl oleate for production of good quality raisins

Regulation of fruit and wine quality parameters of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) by rootstocks in semiarid regions of India

Area under wine grape cultivation is increasing in semiarid tropical regions of India. There is lack of information on role of rootstocks influencing must composition and thereby wine quality under such climatic conditions. Majority of area under table grape cultivation is grafted on Dogridge rootstock, which is also been used for wine grapes. Grapes harvested from vines grafted on Dogridge were known to possess high potassium resulting in high pH which has adverse effect on wine quality. Hence, this study was initiated to understand fruit composition and wine quality of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes grafted with each of the rootstocks 101-14Mgt, 1103P, 110R, 140Ru, Fercal, Gravesac and SO4. Rootstocks significantly influenced many of the must composition parameters such as sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, potassium and pH. Significant and positive correlation was observed between potassium content, juice pH and malic acid. Rootstocks 101-14 Mgt and Gravesac accumulated more potassium in fruits which also had higher malic acid and juice pH, while it was least on 110R, 1103P, Fercal and SO4 rootstocks. The potassium content in juice was directly related to wine pH, wherein wines made from 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grafted on 101-14 Mgt and Gravesac had highest pH. Content of most of the phenolic compounds in must and wine were significantly influenced by rootstocks. There was more than two fold increase in the total phenolic content from must to wines with highest phenols recorded in wines made from fruits harvested on 110R rootstock

Rootstock affects stress relieving enzymatic activity during bud break in 'Red Globe' grapevine under semi-arid condition

       The role of stress relieving enzymes during bud sprouting in grapevines has already been established in different varieties. However, data on 'Red Globe' variety under tropical conditions are not reported. The present study was conducted to generate data on stress relieving enzymatic activities during bud sprout in 'Red Globe' on different rootstocks under arid conditions of India. Influence of different rootstocks on stress relieving enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase and polyphenol oxidase) involved in bud sprouting under tropical conditions with double pruning and single cropping pattern was evidenced. Positive interactions were observed between enzymatic activities of stress relieving enzymes, increased bud break (64.25 %) and reduction in days taken to bud sprout (8.43 days). Among the rootstocks under study, vines on 110R and own rooted vines have strong impact on stress relieving enzymes that resulted into early and increased bud sprouting. Also, the dynamics of enzymatic activity can be used as biological indicators for forecasting the end of bud dormancy and recommencement of growth

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