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- Author or Editor: John Fitzgerald x
- Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science x
Canopy management and ethephon application (100 mg·liter-1 2 weeks after veraison) were investigated for 2 years as possible ways to improve color and overall quality of `Reliance' grapes (Vitis spp.). Canopy management consisted of leaf removal, shoot positioning, and cluster thinning. Grapevines were subjected to one of two levels of leaf removal and one of two levels of preharvest ethephon spray and were either thinned to a basal cluster or nonthinned. Thinning and ethephon advanced harvest dates by 5 to 8 days and 2 to 3 days, respectively. In 1989, berry weight was increased by thinning but was not affected by leaf removal or ethephon. Leaf removal (direct sun exposure) of thinned and nonthinned treatments increased “L” values (lighter colored fruit) in 1989. In 1990, leaf removal, ethephon, and thinning resulted in higher “L” values. The “a” values were significantly increased by leaf removal in 1989 and 1990 and by thinning in 1989, a result indicating increased skin redness. Exposed clusters of nonthinned treatments had significantly higher “b” values due to more yellow fruit in 1989 than in 1990. Ethephon increased “b” values in thinned and nonthinned treatments. In 1990, leaf removal increased “b” values. Thinning resulted in more evenly colored, redder fruit. Leaf removal caused a lightening and yellowing of the skin. Juice from leaf removal treatments in 1990 had significantly higher “L”, “a”, and “b” values. Ethephon significantly increased the “a” value of juice in 1989, and leaf removal significantly increased the “b” value in 1989. The percent soluble solids of juice was generally decreased by ethephon and increased by leaf removal and thinning. Titratable acidity was decreased by leaf removal and ethephon and increased by thinning in both years. Leaf removal decreased berry pH in 1990. Thinning increased coloration, and direct exposure to light decreased coloration. The results with ethephon were not conclusive. Chemical name used: 2-chloro-ethyl-phosphonic acid (ethephon).