EFFECT OF SHOOT DENSITY, CROP LEVEL AND CROP LOAD ON FRUIF AND WINE QUALITY OF 'SAUVIGNON BLANC' GRAPES

摘要

Two shoot densities 44 and 14 per vine and two crop levels of 1 and 2 clusters per shoot for each shoot density were applied to a Sauvignon blanc vineyard on 110 R rooslock at the Golan Height in Israel. The crop level varicd from 9.1 to 32 tons/ha whereas the crop load varicd between 1.7 to 8.9 crop to pruning weight ratio. The highest crop load reduced wine qualily as determined by sensory evaluation. The crop load parameters, pruning to crop weight ratio and leaf area to fruit weight ratio were highly correlated. The effect of number of shoots per vine on wine quality was greater than the effect of number of bunches per shoots whereas the number of bunches per shoot affected the rate of gas exchange and stomatal and mesophyll conductance. Osmoregulation was affected by shoot density but not by number of bunches per shoot.