Project Number: 5358-21000-042-08
Project Type: Grant

Start Date: Sep 01, 2011
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
1. Determine the impact of cluster zone leaf removal in modifying canopy microclimate for fruit quality in both high and low vigor vines. 2. Improve the understanding of leaf pulling on formation of norisoprenoids in Pinot noir grapes in relation to inherent vine vigor. 3. Establish a correlation of grape aroma precursor content with wine aroma potential

Approach:
Treatments will include 0, 50 and 100% leaves pulled in the cluster zone of the east side of the canopy of north-south oriented vine rows. A minimum of 10 vertically shoot positioned vines will be used per treatment rep with 5 replicates per treatment at each vineyard site. Leaf pulling will occur when fruit is in the bud break stage. Leaves will be removed from the base of the shoot up to the leaf subtending the uppermost cluster. Fruit will be thinned to the same number of clusters per vine at each site. The experimental vineyards will be monitored for vegetative growth, vine size and microclimate. At harvest, treatment replicates will be harvested separately. A 20 cluster sample will be collected per replicate for grape composition analysis. In addition, a minimum of 12 kg of fruit will be harvested per treatment replicate for wine production, wine components analysis and sensory evaluations. Documents Grant with Oregon State University.