Michigan State University viticulture professor Paolo Sabbatini knows early leaf removal is an effective way to manage cluster rot, and he knows why: better drying. His decade of research on the topic has altered the management practices of many Michigan wine grape growers.His work has also shown that early leaf removal can improve fruit quality, but he hasn’tconfirmedwhy. In 2020, he received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department ofAgriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to figure it out. The three-year project will run through 2023. Sabbatini's co-investigator is MSU agricultural engineering professor lice Medina Meza.In early leaf removal, leaves are removed from around the grape cluster during bloom, as opposed to the more traditional approach to canopy management, when leaves are removed just before or during veraison. Removing leaves during bloom leads to earlierand greater light penetration. It also stresses the vines, which reduces fruit set. The clusters loosen up and dry faster, making them more resistant to rot, Sabbatini said.
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