TY - JOUR T1 - The Semi-Minimal-Pruned Hedge: A Novel Mechanized Grapevine Training System JF - American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO - Am. J. Enol. Vitic. DO - 10.5344/ajev.2011.10083 SP - ajev.2011.10083 AU - Cesare Intrieri AU - Ilaria Filippetti AU - Gianluca Allegro AU - Gabriele Valentini AU - Chiara Pastore AU - Emilia Colucci Y1 - 2011/05/02 UR - http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2011/05/02/ajev.2011.10083.abstract N2 - A novel grapevine training system designed for mechanized pruning and harvesting (SMPH) was established on Sangiovese. The system was derived from adult spur-pruned cordon (SPC) vines which were modified to form a mechanically pruned hedge. SMPH heights of 80 cm and 120 cm were compared to the SPC from 2005 to 2008 leaving an average of 332 and 479 buds per meter of row on SMPH 80 and 120, respectively, compared to 18 count nodes per meter of row on the hand-pruned SPC. The hedged vines showed a larger leaf area, greater leaf area/crop ratio and 35–40% yield increase compared to SPC, but no differences in juice soluble solids, pH and acidity were found across the treatments. Berry skin anthocyanins were higher in hedged vines, notably the SMPH 120. The SMPH hedge had more numerous but less compact and smaller clusters free of botrytis with respect to SPCs. While SMPH 120 showed a tendency to alternate bearing, this effect was minimal in SMPH 80. Single-shoot growth measured in 2006 was lower in SMPH vines and their total seasonal canopy light interception was higher compared to SPC. SMPH single-leaf assimilation was similar to SPC vines. Mechanical harvesting of both SMPH treatments was successful. These findings suggest that the SMPH systems warrant further commercial evaluation because of their positive response to mechanization, grape yield and quality, and low susceptibility to bunch rot. ER -