Canopy management in grapevines involves organizing shoots, leaves, and fruit to enhance microclimate quality and yield, particularly in cooler climates. The document discusses various canopy training systems and the importance of pruning to optimize yield, quality, and disease management. Different systems, such as head, kniffin, bower, and cordon systems, provide advantages and disadvantages based on vine vigor and environmental conditions.

2. CANOPY MANAGEMENT IN GRAPE
SUSHRITA NAYAK
OUAT

3. Canopy management is the organisation
of the shoots, leaves and fruit of the grapevine
plant in order to maximise the quality of the
microclimate surrounding them, thus
improving quality and yield. It is particularly
important in cool-climate areas.

4. INTRODUCTION
• A grapevine is a climber.
• It has indeterminate growth with weak
stem.
• It needs support not only to support the
weight of its aerial parts and fruits but
also to maintain the canopy architecture.
• The manner in which a grapevine is
trained does not only influence the vine
growth, productivity and quality but also
brings about variation in microclimate.
• Canopy management starts with the
interaction of the cultivar, vineyard site,
seasonal climate, inputs and the trellis
system.
GRAPE VINE
GRAPE VINE YARD

5. GRAPEVINE FRUITING CHARACTRISTICTS
• Dormant buds on 1-yr-old canes (last year’s canes)
give rise to new (current season) canes on which the
grape clusters are produced.
• Because of this character, pruning mature
grapevines consists of replacing all the fruiting wood
each year.
• This can amount to removing 80% or more of the 2-
yr-old canes and replacing them with 1-yr-old canes.
Dormant bud on
a 1-yr-old cane
!-yr-old cane
An emerging current season cane
Grape clusters on
current season canes

6. AIM OF CANOPY MANAGEMENT IN GRAPES
• To control vine vegetative growth.
• To improve sunlight exposure to fruit and foliage.
• To increase airflow in the canopy so as to reduce disease pressure.
• To improve the coverage and effectiveness of pesticide applications.
• To facilitate easy cultural practices like thinning, dipping, pruning and harvest.
• To improve the fruit yield and quality.
Shaded fruit …2 weeks later maturity
Increased light and temperature helps fruit to
mature

7. BENEFITS OF A REDUCED CANOPY
MICROCLIMATE
• This helps in easy entry of light and air into the canopy environment.
• It lowers the incidence of almost all diseases by reducing humidity levels and
allowing sunlight and wind to dry out leaves and fruit easily.
• This also helps in improving spray penetration to interior of the canopy.
• It allows sunlight to penetrate into the canopy interior for more efficient
photosynthesis.
• It helps the grape bunches to look better, makes the grapes appear better
quality.

8. TRAINING SYSTEM
• Training is a practice in which tree growth is directed into a desired shape
and form.
• Training young fruit trees is essential for proper tree development.
• It is better to direct tree growth with training than to correct it with
pruning. There is different system of training system.

9. HEAD SYSYEM

10. HEAD SYSYEM
• Single shoot is allowed to grow from newly planted vines, removing side shoots if
produced and by help of stake.
• Heading back the main single stem at a height of 1.2 metres permits side shoots.
• In general, 4 to 5 laterals at about 75 to 90 cm above ground level, in all directions are
retained after removing all other shoots produced.
• Later two secondary from each lateral are allowed.
• On pruned shoot, flower and fruit appear.
• Vines trained on head system have bushy shape, occupy less space and can be
adopted for high density planting vineyards.
• This system is suitable for less vigorous cultivar like; Beauty Seedless, Perlette,
Delight, Gold etc. cultivar.
• ADVANTAGES
Easiness
Inexpensiveness
suitability in high density planting
possibility of inter cultivation
• DISADVANTAGES - yield per vine is usually low

11. KNIFFIN SYSTEM

12. KNIFFIN SYSTEM
• In this system, two row of wire are stretched at a height of 1.05 and 1.55 meter
from ground level with the help of iron or concentrate poles.
• Second pair of arms is allowed at 50 cm above the lower layer.
• The vine are cut at a height of 1.65 meters from ground level.
• Along with both the line of wires, 2 branches of the vines are trained parallel to
the ground. Thus the vine develop 4 arms.
• This system suitable for medium vigorous variety like Early Muscat, Banqui-
Abyad, Bhokri, Beauty Seedless and Bhokri.
• Sometimes, three horizontal lines at different heights are maintained in certain
areas, the system being called as Modified Kniffin.

13. ADVANTAGES
Ease of pruning to long canes.
Vertical distribution of fruit.
More compatible with
tolerating winter injury than
cordon systems
DISADVANTAGES
 The lower arms become
unproductive after a few years.
 Requires annual tying of canes.
 Difficult to maintain quality on
lower wires (shading).
 Not compatible with systematic
leaf removal & shoot positioning.
KNIFFIN SYSTEM

14. TELEPHONE SYSTEM OR OVER
HEADTRELLIS SYSTEM

15. TELEPHONE SYSTEM OR OVER
HEADTRELLIS SYSTEM
• In this system pole are erected at a distance of 3.6 to 4.8 meter.
• At the terminal pole, there is 1.2 meter long arm.
• The arm are drilled with 6 hole and through these hole 6 wires are
stretched from one pole to another and this vine are train over these wires.
• The vines are allowed to grow to a hight of 1.5-1.6 meter and then train
along with the wires.
• It is suitable for moderately vigorous cultivar having more apical
dominance.

16. TELEPHONE SYSTEM OR OVER
HEADTRELLIS SYSTEM

17. BOWER SYSTEM

18. BOWER SYSTEM
• In Bower system, a bower of 2.1 m height is erected using stone pillars as support and
galvanized iron wire of 8 and 10 guage thickness for mesh.
• One vigorous growing shoot is selected by nipping off other shoots and this single
shoot is allowed to grow up straight with the support of bamboo or plastic wire stake.
• All the axillary shoots are pruned and the main growing shoot pinched off at 15 cm,
below the pandal level.
• Two shoots arising below the cut area are allowed to grow in opposite direction on
the wires overhead. These two shoots develop into main arms.
• On the main arms, side shoots are allowed to grow at regular intervals of 40 to 45 cm.
These side shoots are called secondaries and tertiaries or canes from which fruiting
spurs develop. The arms and secondaries form the permanent frame work of the vine.
• The main arm should be trained towards East and West direction so as to reduce
damage due to sunburn during summer months especially after February-March
pruning.
• The entire space allocated for each vine is covered in a gradual manner by
intermittent pinching of the primary arms and secondaries, not allowing them to
grow more than 60 cm at a time. As they grow, the shoots are tied with jute twine
and all tendrils are removed.

19. CORDON SYSTEM
•Part of the vine’s woody framework, arising from the top of the
trunk and on which arms are born.
•Cordons can be at any angle but are generally trained along
horizontal wires or shallowly sloped wires as in come tendon
trellises.
•The most common arrangement is a bilateral cordon in which two
horizontal cordons are arranged in opposite directions from the top
of the trunk, but any number of arrangements are possible.
•The unilateral cordon is common in some parts of Europe, and
because of ease of training is being increasingly adopted in the New
World.
•Usually the cordon is trained to its permanent position and remains
there.
•Vines are trained with one or two shoots perpendicular to main
stem using horizontally fixed wires.

20. SINGLE CURTAIN BI-LATERAL
CORDON (HIGHTRELLIS)
Advantage
• Adaptable to mechanical pruning, unskilled manual pruning, and
mechanical shoot positioning.
• Fruit are high for good sun exposure.
• Requires little annual tying.
Disadvantages
• Tends to reduce vine vigor, especially if shoots are positioned.
• Difficult to establish cordons where there is frequent winter injury.
• Old cordons hard to remove from wires.
• Old cordons may become a reservoir for diseases.

21. SINGLE CURTAIN BI-LATERAL
CORDON (HIGHTRELLIS)

22. GENEVA DOUBLE CURTAIN
Advantages:
• Method to handle high vigor vines.
Disadvantages:
• Requires additional labor to shoot position.

23. SINGLE STAKE SYSTEM
• In this system, the vine is fastened to an
upright support of a tree such as Erythrina
indica.
• When the single trunk reaches a height of 1.5
M, it is tipped and encouraged to produce 4-5
secondary branches which themselves are
going to be the fruiting branches or canes
when they attain full maturity.
• From the second year onwards, the Erythrina
indica plnats are also regularly pruned twice a
year at the time of pruning grapevine.

24. SINGLE STAKE SYSTEM
• In October pruning, the canes are headed back to 3-4 buds per cane.
• These buds will be producing the fruiting shoots during spring and produce ro0f
during summer.
• After harvest of fruits during April, the October spurs together with growths
are pruned to foundation or renewal spurs viz., pruned back to a single bud.
• There after, the type of pruning given in October April is repeated every year.
• After three such cycles (3 years), when the main trunk of the vine becomes
sufficiently thick, a strong cane is selected at the time of October pruning and
retained as further extension of trunk.
• This extension cane is tied horizontally on bamboo stake tied on Erythrina
plants along the rows.
• Instead of bamboo stakes, trellis wire of GI can also be used.
• This system is suitable for varieties which bear at shorter cane like Bhokri and
not for varieties that bear in longer canes.
• The spacing recommended to be adopted for this system is 2.4 M x 2.4M.
• It is a common system inWestern India.

25. BOWER / ARBOUR / PANDAL
/PERGOLA SYSTEM

26. BOWER / ARBOUR / PANDAL /
PERGOLA SYSTEM
• Most commonly adopted system in Tamil Nadu.
• It gives high yield in vigorous varieties like Anab-e-shahi.
• The vines are planted at wider spacing of 3.6M x 4.5M or 4.5M x 5.4M.
• The main stem or trunk is allowed to grow from the rooted cutting.
• The vines are trained single stemmed up to a height of 2 to 2.5 m and then
laterals are spread over a criss cross network of wires supported by strong
concrete, stone or wooden poles.
• Pinching of growing point when the vine reaches height of pandal induces
production of side shoots.
• Two vigorous shoots in opposite direction are maintained initially as primary
arms and three laterals spaced at 60 cm are developed on both sides as
secondary arms on each primary shoot, thus there will be 12 secondary arms on
each vine.
• Teritiaries will be allowed at 8-10 numbers per secondary arm, which after
maturity constitute the fruiting canes
• Bower system is suitable for almost all varieties especially for vigorous ones like
Anab-e-Shahi and Bhokri.

27. CONT….
• This is widely adopted in tropics throughout world to exploit the full
productive potential of vines, which show apical dominance under tropics.
• Though initial cost for establishing the pandal is higher, yields from vines on
this system are also higher mainly due to large fruiting area provided.
• It is possible to develop as many as 10 shoots/ m2 by subdividing the apices
growing in horizontal plain.
• ADVANTAGES
A tropical climate and mild winter as prevailing in Tamil Nadu encourages
luxuriant growth.
Facilitates the harvest of successive crops at an interval of 5 months.
The crops get enough sunshine uniformly for their proper development.
Plant protection measures are more effective in this system.

28. UMBRELLA KNIFFEN
Advantages:
• Easily to learn system.
• Fruit high, distributed and
well exposed.
• Simple trellis construction.
Disadvantages:
• Requires of annual tying of
canes.
• Less adaptable to shoot
positioning.

29. KEUKA HIGH RENEWAL
Advantages
•Very compatible with
frequent replacement of
vine parts in response to
frequent winter injury.
Disadvantages
•Requires of annual tying of
canes.
•Difficult for inexperienced
pruners.
•Not adaptable to
systematic leaf removal &
shoot positioning.

30. GOYUT
Advantages:
• Fruit can be situated relatively low to ground where it may benefit from radiant
heat.
• Minimal vine structure makes it easy to cope with winter injury to vines.
• Long canes retain more fruitful nodes.
• Can be converted to a mid-wire cordon system.
Disadvantages:
• Difficulty in pruning & harvesting if low to ground.
• Possible congested fruit zone.
• Greater risk of spring freeze injury.

31. PENDLEBOGEN
Advantages:
• Fruit can be situated relatively low to
ground where it may benefit from
radiant heat.
• Minimal vine structure makes it easy to
cope with winter injury to vines.
• Long canes retain more fruitful nodes.
• Can be converted to a mid-wire cordon
system.
• Arching of canes creates better vertical
distribution of fruit on the trellis.
• Relatively few ties per vine.
• Can be spur pruned for next 1-2 years.
• Possible to protact canes from winter
injury.
Disadvantages:
• More challenging if fruiting wires are low
to the ground.

32. FAN
Advantages:
• Maximum flexibility to adjust to
frequent winter injury.
• Minimal retention of permanent
vine parts.
• Easily to learned.
• Can bury canes for winter
protection.
Disadvantages:
• Requires annual tying of canes.
• Not adaptable to systematic shoot
positioning or leaf removal.
• Fruit can be hard to find and
harvest.

33. MID-WIRE CORDON
• Advantages
• Ease of establishment.
• Adaptable to unskilled
manual pruning.
• Little tying required.
• Disadvantages
• Fruiting zone may become
crowded and shaded on large
vines.
• Nodes on fruiting spurs may
be of lower quality.
• Bud counts may be low
during renewal years.
• Often requires post
extensions.

34. LOW CORDON
Advantages
• Fruiting zone close to ground utilizes radiant heat to promote ripening.
• Low fruiting and renewal zone utilizes snow cover or artificial covers to avoid
winter injury.
Disadvantages
• Difficult on labor - low to ground.
• Requires excellent weed management.
• Soil residues on fruit.
• Spring freeze susceptible.

35. SMART-DYSON
Advantages:
• Adaptable to mechanical pruning.
• Uses shoot positioning to expose fruit for ripening.
• Less likely to develop differences in fruit maturity and bud quality than
with Scott Henry system.
Disadvantages:
• Requires excellent weed management.

36. SCOTT HENRY
Advantages
•Promotes a systematic display of a large canopy and good exposure
of fruit to sunlight.
•Well organized fruiting zones are easy to hand harvest.
Disadvantages
•Fruit maturation in lower fruiting zone is often behind the upper.
•Canes and buds developing in lower portion of trellis are of inferior
quality.
•Complicated shoot positioning is required.
•Tall trellis is required.
•No advantage to weak vines

37. SCOTT HENRY

38. LYRE
Advantages
• Excellent distribution of the
grapevine canopy.
• Desirable upward growth of all
shoots.
• Good exposure of fruit for ripening.
• Adaptable to mechanical pruning.
Disadvantages
• Complexity and expense.
• Extensive shoot positioning
required.

39. MINI- J:
• Modification of the fan system.
• A semi-permanent trunk is developed.
• Trunk is positioned low to the ground to better facility removing it from the
wires and burying it for winter protection.
• Can be head or cordon pruned.

40. PRUNING
•Pruning is the most important operation to encourage fruiting
simultaneously maintaining the vigour of vine.
•The yield of grapes is dependent to a larger extent on the method of
pruning.
•Different varieties require different systems of pruning depending up to
their vigour and bearing habit.
•Grape vine is a past season bearer.
•The flower buds are differentiated in the previous season itself in a cane.
•The lateral mixed buds which have differentiated into flower bud will be
released as a shoot (current season growth) possessing leaves and
inflorescence.
•This shoot is going to mature and become cane for the next season.
•After building the canopy spread on the supporting system by proper
training, the vines should be pruned once or twice in a year depending
upon the climatic conditions in a locality.

41. CONT….
•In the mild tropical region, vines are pruned twice and the crop is
harvested twice.
•In varieties like ‘Gulabi’ and ‘Bangalore Blue’ which are fairly resistant
to rain damage and in which cloudy weather and rains do not impair
bud differentiation, pruning is done at one time of the year.
•As a result, five crops are harvested every two years.
•The growers adopt a pruning level of 4-5 bud level for pruning of all
the matured canes which results in more exploitation of reserved food
material leading to loss of vigour, quality and early setting of senility in
the vines.
•In ‘Pacha Dhiraksha’, pruning shoots to 4 or 5 buds for summer crop
and 3 or 4 buds for monsoon crop is recommended.

42. SEASON OF PRUNING
• Season of pruning and buds to be retained on canes are important factors
to be considered.
• Growth behaviour of grape vine differs in tropical and temperate
conditions.
• In tropical conditions grape exhibits strong apical dominance and sprouting
of a fewer buds, necessitating retention of as much as 10 times more
number of canes on a vine after pruning to get optimum yield.
• Best season for pruning vines is towards end of winter when they are
dormant.
• In North India pruning is generally completed by mid-January.
• Grape culture in Southwest India has some special features.
• Vines exhibit continuous growth without entering into dormancy due to
mild winters.
• Pruning is possible two times a year under such conditions.

43. CONT….
• In Tamil Nadu, pruning in December-January gives yield in April-May, called
as summer crop and pruning in May-June results harvesting in August-
September, called as monsoon crop.
• In certain pockets, pruning is adjusted in such a way to harvest crops during
every five months.
• In Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, pruning is done during
summer (March-April) to induce vegetative growth, generally called as
'back pruning' or 'growth pruning', followed by pruning for fruiting during
September-October
• To determine number of buds to be retained while pruning, one should be
aware of bearing habit of varieties grown.
• In some varieties, basal buds of cane are fruitful whereas in a few others,
middle or even apical buds are fruitful.

44. CONT….
• Based on their fruiting habits, number of buds to be retained varies while
pruning.
• Number of buds to be retained for different varieties is as follows:
Bangalore Blue, Bhokri - 3-4 buds.
Gulabi - 10-12 buds.
Thompson Seedless - 10-14 buds.
Beauty Seedless, Perlette, Cardinal - 4-5 buds.
Anab-e-Shahi - 4-8 buds.
Muscat, Pachadraksha - 5-6 buds.
Pusa Seedless - 9-12 buds.

46. PRUNING ANDTRAININGYOUNG
GRAPEVINES
• Grapevines can be trained with a
single or double trunk.
• Training vines to a single trunk is the
most common and simplest
method.
• In cold climates or with marginally
adapted cultivars, training vines to a
double trunk is often preferred.
• If one trunk is killed, the other trunk
will provide some production until
the dead trunk can be replaced.
SINGLE
TRUNK
DOUBLE
TRUNK

47. CONT….
• From planting through the third
growing season, pruning and training
practices are essentially the same for
the various training systems used for
grapes.
After the 1st
growing season
After the 2nd growing season
Afer the 3rd growing season

48. PRUNING PRACTICES AT PLANTING
• After planting, cut last season’s (1-yr-old) canes back to 2 to 3 buds.
• Training to a single trunk - Retain one cane.
• Training to a double trunk - Retain two canes
Last season’s cane
(1-yr-old cane)
Cutting

49. DURINGTHE FIRST GROWING SEASON
• The objective is to train the vine up
to the desired wire.
- Top wire for a high cordon.
- Mid-level wire for a low
cordon.
• This requires going through the
vineyard several times during the
season and tying up the canes to
keep them vertical.
• Whenever the canes are allowed to
droop over, the axillary (lateral)
buds at the highest point on the
cane will begin to grow & the
terminal cane growth becomes
stunted.
• Remove any grape clusters that
develop at bloom.

50. FIRSTYEARTRAINING OPTIONS
• It include:
- No pruning, and training all canes
that develop up to the desired wire.
- Install grow tubes and allow 1 or 2
canes to develop.
- Prune back to 1 or 2 canes and train
them up to the desired wire.
• Differences occur in the amount of
root mass that develops.
• The use of grow tubes or pruning to
1 or 2 shoots promotes top growth
as opposed to root growth.
• A greater root mass promotes
better growth the following year.
• Whether one uses grow tubes
should be based on other
management practices.
- They protect the canes when
herbicides are applied.
- They initially protect the vines from
rabbits & deer.
Unpruned
Tubed
Pruned to a single shoot
Unpruned
Tubed
Pruned to a single shoot

51. FIRST DORMANT PRUNING (SPRING OF
THE SECONDYEAR)
• Establishing the trunk.
• Select 1 or 2 of the best
canes and remove the
others.
• Remove any lateral canes.
• If the canes have reached
or extend above the
desired wire they can be:
-Tied onto the desired wire.
- Pruned back to just below
the desired wire to promote
new canes that will be
trained along the wire.
Before Single Trunk Double Trun
After
Pruning
Cut
Cut for
a Single
Trunk

52. CONT….
• If the canes did not reach
the desired wire, prune back
to healthy wood that is at
least 3/8”, or back to 2 - 3
buds and start the process
over.
• The selected canes should
be tied to a temporary stake
or string, and to any lower
wires to promote a straight
trunk.

53. DURINGTHE SECOND GROWING
SEASON
• The objective is to train the new
canes out onto the desire wire
to develop the cordon.
• Train any canes in close
proximity on to the wire.
• Any canes developing low on
the trunk should be rubbed off
when they are young.
• Suckers arising from the ground
should be removed.
• Any grape clusters developing
on the canes should be
removed at bloom.

54. SECOND DORMANT PRUNING
(SPRING OFTHETHIRDYEAR)
• Establish the Cordon:
• Select the best canes based upon position, vigor, and health to form the
cordon.
• If the vine has sufficient vigor, prune back the selected canes so that they
fill in about 2/3’s of the allotted space between vines.
• Prune back any lateral canes developing off the 1-yr-old canes to a single
bud.
Before
After

55. PRUNING INTHIRD GROWING
SEASON
• If the vines are developing on
schedule, and exhibit good vigor,
they can be allowed to carry a
partial crop.
• Some cluster thinning may be
necessary.
• Rub off any canes developing low
on the trunk early in the growing
season.
• Remove suckers developing from
the ground.

56. PRUNING MATUREVINES
BALANCED PRUNING
• Balanced pruning is practiced to maintain a balance between
vegetative growth and fruiting.
• The amount (weight) of the previous year’s cane growth (1-yr-old
canes) determines how many buds to retain for the current
production year.
• A base number of buds to retain for the first pound (453 g) of
trimmings has been established for various cultivars based on their
inherent vine vigour and production characteristics.
• To compensate for vine vigour, additional buds are retained for
each additional pound of trimmings removed up to a maximum of 4
pounds.

57. BALANCED PRUNING
The number of buds to retain for each
additional pound of 1-yr-old trimmings
removed.
-If the weight of trimmings exceeds 4 lbs,
do not retain any more additional buds.
“30 + 10”
The number of buds to retain for the first
pound of 1-yr-old trimmings removed.
-If the vines produce less than one pound
of trimmings, reduce the number of buds
retained in proportion to the weight.

58. STEPS IN BALANCED PRUNING
• Size-up the vines & estimate the weight of the 1-year-old canes.
• Remove all 1-year-old fruiting canes except those positioned close to the
trunk or cordon that may be retained for fruiting.
- For long cane (Kniffen) systems, leave the entire cane.
- For bi-lateral cordon systems, leave 5 to 6-bud spurs.
• Weigh the 1-year-old canes from a few vines.
• Based upon the weight of the 1-yr-old trimmings, determine the number of
buds to retain per vine.
“30 + 10” balanced pruning system
“20 + 10” balanced pruning system
• Remove any extra buds to obtain the desired bud number for the vigour of
the vine.
NOTE-The ideal canes to retain are those that are moderately
vigorous (about ¼ inch diameter at the 5th or 6th node/bud).Avoid
weak & spindly canes with short internodes, and “bull” canes that are
very thick with long internodes.

59. For High-vigor Cultivars
“30 + 10 Rule”
Lbs. of Canes Buds kept
1 30
2 (30 + 10) 40
3 (30 + 10 + 10) 50
4 (30 + 10 + 10 + 10) 60*
* Max number of buds
For Low-vigor American Type Cultivars
“20 + 10 Rule”
Lbs. of Canes Buds kept
1 20
2 (20 + 10) 30
3 (20 + 10 + 10) 40
4 (20 + 10 +10) 50*
* Max number of buds
CONT…..

60. COMPENSATING FOR WINTER
INJURY
• Because the cane buds are the least hardy portion of a grapevine, it
always a good practice to inspect the buds before pruning.
Healthy bud Primary injured bud

61. CONT….
• 0 to 20 % bud injury:
- No compensation is necessary.
• 20 to 80 % bud injury:
- Adjust the number of buds retained in proportion to the extent of
injury.
- If the weight of trimmings indicates that 50 buds should be retained
and the extent of winter injury is 40%, then 50 x 1.4 = 70 buds should
be retained.
• 80 % or more bud injury:
- Keep pruning to a minimum. Only remove canes that will touch the
ground.

62. CONT….
• Position of canes and numbers of buds on each cane is dependent upon the
training system.
• Training system also differ according to varieties-
• Labrusca types = downward growth= Umbrella Kniffin
• V. vinifera types = upward growth

63. SHOOT POSITIONING
 Shoots are positioned so that they are not a “solid mat” on top
of the cordon.
 Canes growing along or cross the top of the cordon are
repositioned so that they flow downward from the cordon.
 Positioning is done after shoots become strongly attached.
 When lignin begins to form at the base of the canes (canes
begin to change colour from green to brown).
 Generally done beginning in early to mid-July.
 May have to be repeated 30 days later.

64. SHOOT TOPPING
• Shoot topping is the practice of removing a portion of the cane during the growing
season.
• It is practiced to shorten the vine when the canes get long enough to interfere with
cultural practices.
• Otherwise, it is not a proven practice.
- Timing and length need to be determined.
- Remember that whenever leaves are removed, the photosynthetic potential
of the vine is reduced, and this can affect next year’s crop.
• If shoot topping is to be practiced, do it in late summer.
- Avoid doing it during the period of fruit bud formation.
• Retain at least 11 to 13 leaves per cluster on the main cane plus any laterals that
develop.
- Studies in Germany on V. vinifera cultivars found that 11 to 13 leaves are
required to adequately mature a grape cluster.
• Any time a cane is cut back, axillary buds near the cut will begin to grow.
• If the canes are cut too far back, re-growth will occur for next year.
• Re-growth uses reserve photosynthates during the current year, and may not
properly mature.

65. LEAF PULL
• Remove 2‐3 leaves from around the fruit clusters.
• Goal of 50‐80% fruit exposure.
• Be sure to retain 15 leaves per shoot.
• Excessive leaf pull, later in the season can result in sunscald.

66. SHOOT PINCHING
• Shoot pinching is a part of pruning, mainly done to promote
fruitfulness and regulate the current season growth. Shoot pinching
is done when the main shoot attains 7-8 leaf stage.
• During pinching the tip of the mature shoot is pinched by retaining
only five nodes. As a result the terminal bud along with 1-2 laterals
resumes growth. These laterals are called as sub-canes.
• Buds up to third node from the base on the sub-cane were found to
be invariably fruitful resulting in 2-3 clusters/cane.

67. TERMINATION OF BUD DORMANCY
• Under low temperature (<10OC) conditions during winter vines undergo
dormancy.
• Therefore it is necessary to break this dormancy. Under normal conditions
in Maharashtra and Karnataka the minimum temperatures normally cross
10OC after pruning and thus buds do not undergo dormancy.
• However in north India, the temperatures are low after pruning and
therefore the bud remain dormant till early spring.
• Late bud break in early spring delays the ripening and the crop is lost
because of rains.
• Uniform bud break can be achieved by the use of chemicals like Hydrogen
Cynamide @1.5% or Thiourea @4%. These chemicals are applied to the
buds within 48 hours of pruning in tropical conditions.
• Only two or three apical buds on a cane are to be treated with these
chemicals.
• When more buds are treated, more number of shoots will emerge reducing
the available leaf area per bunch and impairing the berry development.

68. GROWTH REGULATORS
• Certain growth regulator are also use in canopy management.The use of growth
regulators not only enhances the productivity of vines but also helps to produce
quality grapes suitable for exports. Choice of growth promoters and regulators to be
used depends upon the traits desired in the grapes meant for exports. The effects of
various growth regulators and growth promoters are as follows-
• IBA @1000-1500 ppm dipping of cuttings Promotes rooting of cuttings.
• 4-CPA @10 ppm 1st spraying when the berry size is 3 mm dia. 2nd spraying when
the berry size is 6 mm dia. Increases the pedicel thickness.
• GA @10-15 ppm spraying before flowering Increases the stalk length of the bunch.
• Ethylene @ 100 ppm 15 days after bud sprout following April pruning reduces apical
shoot growth.
• Ethylene @ 200 ppm at 15-16 leaf stage following April pruning increases the cane
thickness.
• Ethylene @1000-1500 ppm 3-4 days before October pruning Induces leaf drop.

69. SOME IMPORTANT POINTS FOR
CANOPY MANAGEMENT
• Beginning the first year, remove any flower clusters on the shoots (for at least 2 year).
• Develop straight trunks to the desired wire.
• Next, develop cordons,
• Allow cordons to fill in trellis length.
• Practices conducted during the growing season will affect next year’s growth and
productivity.
i.e. Fruit buds for the current year’s crop were formed during the previous
growing season.
• To maximize productivity and quality in the current year, and maximize the potential
productivity for the following year, the leaves have to be positioned to optimize
photosynthesis.
• An open canopy is need for maximum sunlight interception & optimum
photosynthesis. Good air circulation to minimize disease problems.
• Shoot positioning can be helpful to maximize sunlight interception, and enhance air
movement.
• Shoot topping is unproven.
-If used - keep major portion of shoot.

70. REFERANCE
• Book-Basic Horticulture by Jitendra Singh
• NRC Grapes,Pune
• GRAPE PRODUCTION IN INDIA,S.D. Shikhamany*,*Director, National
Research Centre for Grapes (ICAR), Manjri Farm, Pune-412 307, India.
• STACKING, PRUNING AND TRAINING IN GRAPES- TNAU
• Viticulture - Cultivation of the vine - Types and methods of pruning and
training (November 2015 Brandon Thomas www.thewalkinggrape.com).
• Training Systems for Grape Vines- Prepared by Dr. Paul Domoto, Dept. of
Horticulture (July 2010), IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, University Extension
• Pruning, Training, and Grape Canopy Management- Dr. Gail Nonnecke
Department of Horticulture Iowa State University
• Grape Canopy Management, Ben Beale, Extension Educator, University of
Maryland Extension, St. Mary’s County
• Wikipidia
• Internet
• Class notes