Performance of 'Seyval Blanc' grape in four training systems over five years

Abstract

Own-rooted 'Seyval Blanc' vines were evaluated over 5 years in the following training systems: bilateral cordon, bilateral cordon sylvos (sylvos), upright cordon-spur pruned, and upright cordon-cane pruned. Vines in all systems were spaced 1.8 × 2.7 m and were shoot thinned to 40 shoots and cluster thinned to one cluster per shoot. Cumulative yields over 5 years of the upright cordon systems were higher than vines in the sylvos system. Average weight of cane prunings was higher in the upright cordon vines than in all other systems. Vines trained to the sylvos system had more canopy gaps, less Botrytis bunch rot, and higher juice soluble solids than other systems in some years. The chemical constituents of the must and wine or evaluation by tasting showed little influence of training system.