Determination of bud fertility as a simple method for the determination of harvesting volume in Vitis vinifera L. cv tannat, using two pruning systems

Abstract

Bud fertility was estimated in two commercial vineyards of Vitis vinifera cv. Tannat in the southern region of Uruguay; it was carried out in two periods: 1983-1986 (essay A) and 2001,2002,2003 (essay B). The information about bud fertility and yield obtained in the essay A was used as a historical series. The essay B begun in the year 2001. In the two essays, two pruning systems were evaluated: Guyot and cordon de Royat. The pruning system has a very important influence on the bud fertility and therefore on the yield. The Guyot type of pruning, showed for all the years involved in the essay a tendency to higher yields, if it is compared to the Cordon de Royat type of pruning. The study of the bud fertility, yield and the pruning type for a vineyard during a number of years, can be used as a tool to predict the harvest volume.