Effect of Cane Length on Concord and Niagara Grapevines

Abstract

Research from 2001 to 2005 on Concord and Niagara grapevines in Fredonia, New York aimed to evaluate the impact of cane length on yield, vine size, crop load and Juice Soluble Solids (JSS). Concord grapevines were manually pruned to 100 buds using three configurations: 2-node spurs, 5- and 10-node canes. Niagara grapes were manually pruned to 80 buds using three configurations: 2-node spurs, 5- and 10-node canes. In addition to the typical viticulture measurements, yield was collected separately at each node position along the spur or cane in 2004–2005. There was a pattern in bud fruitfulness along the length of the cane with the highest yield originating from node positions 3–6 in Concord and 2–6 in Niagara and this did not change with pruning treatment. Since all vines were pruned to a constant total node number, 5- and 10-node cane treatments had a greater proportion of more fruitful buds and higher final yield compared to the 2-node spurs in the two out of five years. The higher yield on longer canes also led to higher crop load values indicative of over-cropped vines which decreased vine size. In contrast, 2-node spur pruning maintained balanced crop load values which maintained adequate vine size. In the final 2 years of the study, there was no difference in final yield or JSS between pruning treatments because the longer cane treatments were starting the season with lower vine capacity.