Project Number: 5358-21000-041-25
Project Type: Grant

Start Date: Sep 14, 2010
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
1. Determine if sap flow (‘bleeding’) is a prerequisite for budbreak and canopy development. 2. Test if spring shoot vigor and fruit set are related to soil moisture before or during budbreak. 3. Develop practical recommendations for early-season irrigation management.

Approach:
We propose to investigate with pot and field experiments designed to vary soil moisture before and during budbreak. The resulting differences in grapevine vigor will be assessed by measuring shoot length and final pruning weight. Measurements of bleeding sap volume and composition will enable us to determine whether spring shoot vigor is related to the bleeding rate and/or content. Such measurements will be supplemented with estimates of fruit set, yield formation and fruit composition. We will then use the knowledge gained from these experiments to develop practical recommendations for early-season vineyard management. Documents Grant with Washington State University