Effects of green pruning and combine microelement applications on bud fruitfulness, vegetative development and cluster characteristics of ‘Trakya İlkeren’ grape cultivar

Green pruning practices are frequently used in viticulture. These practices provide better light penetration, successful air circulation, prevents air humidity and aids disease control in the grapevine canopy. However, excessive leaf removal inhibits vine growth and good fruit ripening. In this study, the effects of some foliar and canopy management practices on cluster, vegetative growth traits and bud fruitfulness of the following year were investigated. Some green pruning (unproductive shoot removal, leaf removal, shoot tip removal, shoot topping), foliar microelements and green pruning + microlements treatments were applied in ‘Trakya İlkeren’ grape cultivar. Microelement application increased cluster (382.1 g) and berry weight (4.4 g), berry length (19.7 mm) and width (18.2 mm), cluster length (19.5 cm) and width (13.9 cm), berry volume (3.30 cm3) and berry firmness (7.46 N). The highest maturity index was detected in the control group (23.4). While the most intense L* color value was determined in the green pruning + micro element application, the b* color value was determined in the green pruning application. It was determined that leaf area (211.2 cm2), leaf chlorophyll index (32.75 SPAD), shoot diameter (11.13 mm), shoot length (194.71 cm) and internode length (76.81 mm) increased with microelement application. Among the treatments, the most effective application on bud fruitfulness in the following year was at microelement application (1.34 clusters). The effects of the treatments on the amount of Total soluble solids pH, titratable acid and a* color value were not significant. In this study; green pruning + microelement application was recommended for yield and quality sustainability. According to bud fruitfulness results, the highest cluster numbers per node were obtained from pruning with 4 to 10 buds. It is recommended to prune medium or long to obtain higher yields from this cultivar.