Effects of bud nodal position along the cane on bud fertility, yield component and bunch structure in ‘carménère’ grapevines

Abstract

Carménère is an important grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) variety from the Chilean wine industry, which has a low fertility in their basal buds, affecting negatively yield. Due to this, the aim of this work was to characterize and evaluate technological maturity, percentage of bud break, practical bud fertility, yield components, bunch structure and yield index by practical fertility reached in each nodal position in buds along Carménère canes. Bud break reached an average of 79.9% along the cane, with extreme values from 57.3% to 98.7%. Bud fertility reached an average of 1.3 bunch per bud, with extreme values from 0.9 to 1.7. According to this, ‘Carménère’ showed a low fertility in basal buds. Weight of bunch varied from 108.0 to 214.7 g. Number and weight of berries was higher in the buds from distal nodal positions. Bunch structure parameters, such as stalk length, number and length of primary wings, and yield index by practical fertility was also higher in the bud from distal nodal positions. Moreover, large size berries represent 50% of berries and 80% of weight of berries. Due to this, ‘Carménère’ productivity is limited by small size berries. These findings are important to determine the viticultural managements that should be performed in ‘Carménère’ vineyards.