PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Guoguang Luo
TI  - Dragon System of Training and Pruning in China's Viticulture
AID  - 10.5344/ajev.1986.37.2.152
DP  - 1986 Jan 01
TA  - American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
PG  - 152--157
VI  - 37
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.ajevonline.org/content/37/2/152.short
4100  - http://www.ajevonline.org/content/37/2/152.full
SO  - Am J Enol Vitic.1986 Jan 01; 37
AB  - The dragon training system is one of the two main systems for growing grapevines in China. The vine is trained to single or multiple cordons branching just above the ground onto a sloping or horizontal arbor (with wire netting) about 2 m in height. Total length of the permanent vine structure varies averaging from 4 to 10 m. Each cordon or "dragon body" bears consecutive spur positions or "dragon claws"consisting of 1 to 3 bud spurs 10 to 30 cm apart. The "dragons" lie parallel on the arbor approximately 50 cm apart. The advantages of this system are: 1) comparatively easy training, pruning, and high productivity during early years after planting (15-30 t/ha yield can be achieved by the fourth or fifth year); 2) good adaptability to macroclimatic conditions in northern China, where it is usually necessary to bury fruiting wood to survive winters; 3) extensive coverage of the ground surface area with good exposure of foliage to sunlight; and 4) efficient control of vine capacity by shoot removal, cluster thinning, and other cultural practices. The procedures of training dragon-trained vines are described as well as the disadvantages and problems of this system compared to other systems used in China.