HARRY L. ANORISTABLE GRAPE HANDLING PRACTISES

CARDINAL AND RIBIER - 1972

Frederik L. Jensen - Extension Viticulturlst, Kearney Field Station •

George Leavitt - Staff Research Associate, Kearney Field Station

Both Cardinals and Ribiers require extensive hand work in their culture.

Some of these practises have not been fully evaluated in terms of time re¬

quired or the effects on the fruit quality.

1. Cardinals - Kearney Field Station

These second-crop vines were in the high-level cordon, wide croparm

vineyard. Eight treatments with 12 single vine replications were applied

in a randomized complete block. Time for the first treatment was recorded

as was the time required for the second treatment on June Ik, This second

operation consisted of removing all leaves in the cluster area to expose

the fruit.

Fruit was harvested from only 3 treatments as shown in Table 1. The

overall quality of all was poor with rather small, fairly straggly clusters

containing medium-sized berries. There are no significant differences in .

total time nor maturity. The yield of the "all basal leaves removed" is

significantly below that where only two basal leaves were removed.

Sample size for maturity was 50 berries per vine.

2. Ribiers - Kearney Field Station

These are third or fourth crop vines in the mother block, trained

fairly low, and are vigorous vines. Ten single vine replications of three

treatments were applied in a randomized complete block.

On May 3, the vines were suckered to two shoots per spur, and to the

two distal clusters per shoot with the shoulders removed. The treatments

are those shown in Table 2.

On Jime 29-30, the leaves around the clusters were removed to expose

the clusters. There were significant differences in time required between

treatments in these strong-growing vines. The sideshoots were especially

difficult to remove in treatment 2 since they were large and had to be cut

off with clippers. Canes were also thrown over the crossarms but this

operation was not included in the time.

At harvest, there were differences in total yield but yields of

packable fruit were greater. Most of treatment 3 fruit was straggly with

numerous shot berries. There were no differences in maturity but the berry

weight was significantly smaller in treatment 3 where all the leaves had

been removed past the clusters in April.

Sample size for berry weight and maturity was 60 berries per vine.

3. Ribiers - Mark Zaninovich, Delano

The vines were about 15 years old, of medium vigor, trained to a con¬

ventional trellis. Six treatments of 10 single vine replications were

applied in a randomized complete block. Only 3 treatments were harvested.

The vines were handled, suckered and flower-cluster thinned in a manner

similar to the previous trial. The vines were size-girdled by the owner on

June 1 when the fruit measured about 10 mm in diameter. Leaves around the

clusters were removed shortly thereafter.

The results in Table 3 show no differences in time required for the.3

treatments, nor any difference in maturity. The berry weight was signifi¬

cantly less where all the leaves were removed past the last cluster than

where either no leaves or two basal leaves were removed.

Sample size was 100 berries per vine.

Suimnary

These preliminary trials indicate that no leaves should be removed from

the shoot pre-bloom. The effects of such removal may have the undesirable

effects of:

a) Decreasing yield of packable fruit due to a poor set -

stringy clusters containing excessive shot berries,

b) Smaller berries.

Removal of leaves pre-bloom does not reduce the total labor involved

in removing leaves around the clusters in any case.

The sideshoots should be removed pre-bloom since they are too difficult

to take out later,f

Steps in producing Cardinals or Ribiers are :

Pre-Bloom

1. Sucker to 2 shoots per spur.

2, Flower-cluster thin to 2 clusters per spur or whatever level

desired. Preference of cluster is usually 2, 3, 1. Remove

shoulders or tendrils,

Remove all sideshoots past last cluster retained.

Do not remove any leaves on main shoot.

Post-Bloom

1, Reduce crop by cluster thinning if necessary. Remove straggly

clusters first. Tip if desirable,

2, Expose fruit by removing leaves around clusters. May adso open

a window opposite fruit or throw canes over north or east side of

trellis. With bird problems, excessive exposure leads to greater

damage,

h.

Table 1

Effect of Handling Practises on Yield and Fruit Quality

Cardinal - Kearney Field Station

First Treatment, Apr. 26

Time Required per VineMinutes .

Yieldper VinePounds Acid ®Brix

Two basal leaves removed 2.38 a^ 3*03 b 5*^1 a 35*6 a *5ii a 15*7 a

No leaves removed 1.98 a 2.82 a 1+.80 a 33*5 ab *5^ a 15*5 a

All basal leaves removed

past last cluster 2.83 a 1.65 b a 28.6 b *56 a 15*6 a

Leaves removed in cluster area to expose fruit*

Means followed by different letters are significantly different at the 3%

level. Duncan's Multiple Range Test.

Note: April 26 treatment - flower clusters reduced to 2 per shoot retaining

distal clusters, and shoulders removed.

Harvest Sept. 5*

5.

Table 2

Effect of Handling Practises on Yield and Fruit Quality

Ribier - Kearney Field Station

Treatment

Time Required toExpose FruitJune 29-30Minutes

Total Yield

per VinePounds

PackableYield perVinePounds

BerryWeightgms °Brix

Two basal leaves & sideshoots

removed past last cluster 2.53 b i+5.5 27.5 a 5.70 a 15.9 a

No leaves or sideshoots removed U.35 c i+2.3 ab 22.0 b 5.81 a 15.9 a

All leaves & sideshoots removed

past last cluster l.i+3 a 3^.6 b 9.80 c ■ ii.88 b 16.2 a

Note; Harvested Sept. 15.

6.

Table 3

Effect of Handling Practises on Fruit Quality

Mark Zaninovich Ribiers - Delano

Time Required Aug. 29per Vine Berry Weight

Treatment, Apr, 19 Minutes °Brix gms,

No leaves removed 3.9^ a 15.9 a 10,6 a

Two basal leaves removed 4.21 a 15.6 a 10.3 a

All leaves removed past last

cluster 3.89 a I6.T a 9.60 b

All vines crown suckered to 2 shoots per spur, and flower cluster

thinned to 2 clusters per shoots. Where possible, the second and

third clusters were retained and the basal cluster removed. The

shoulders were removed.

The vines were size-girdled June 1 when berries measured about

10-12 mm diam. Also "tunnel-out" - all leaves removed around clusters.