Impact of the Number of Clusters on Cardinal Variety Production Results
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The Cardinal variety is a leading very early ripening table grape variety in the Republic of Macedonia. The grape quality largely depends on the applied production technology. The aim of our research is to determine the impact of the number of retained clusters per m2 on the production results of the Cardinal variety, grown on pergola tendon trellis (odrina) system in the Gevgelija - Valandovo wine region. The load of 3, 4, and 5 clusters/m2 respectively was noted. Based on the results, we found a significant impact of the number of clusters on the yield, dynamics of ripening, and quality of grapes. By increasing the number of clusters, the weight of the cluster decreased from 489 g in the 3 clusters/m2 variant to 446 g in the 5 clusters/m2 variant. The weight of the berry ranged from 7,6 g in the 5 clusters/m2 variant to 8,4 g in the 3 clusters/m2 variant. Total weight of packaged grapes ranged from 1,4 kg/m2 for the 3 clusters/m2 variant to 1,9 kg/m2 for the 5 clusters/m2 variant. There was a significant difference in the dynamics of ripening, i.e., the quantity of packaged grapes in the first harvest. The highest weight of 1,55 kg/m2 of packaged grape in the first harvest was obtained from the variant with 4 clusters/m2, and the lowest of 1,29 kg/m2 from the 3 clusters/m2 variant. Thebest quality of 9.6 points was observed in the variant with 3 clusters/m2 and the lowest of 7.9 points in the grapes of the variant with 5 clusters/m2. From these results, it can be concluded that the best results for the Cardinal variety are obtained by leaving 4 clusters per m2.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7216626182