INFLUENCE OF CANOPY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD AND BERRY QUALITY OF RUBY SEEDLESS GRAPEVINES UNDER DAKAHLIA GOVERNORATE CONDITIONS.

This study was carried out during 2002 and 2003 seasons on Ruby Seedless
grapevines to examine the effect of removing the basal leaves at bloom or after fruit
set each alone or combined with shoot thinning and topping or bolh on yield. cluster
characteristics as well as berry physical and chemical characterislics. All canopy
management practices which contained leaf removal after fruit set with or without
shoot thinning and topping increased pack.able and totat yield per vine. cluster weight.
compactness coefficient and juice volume. whereas the percentage of cull yield was
decreased than the control. On the other hand. early removal of the basat leaves
alone or combined with shoot thinning reduced total yield. cluster weight, berry weight
and juice volume than the control. Canopy management practices of leaf removal
after fruit set plus shoot thinning and topping gave a higher yield. cluster weight. berry
weight and juice volume than the other treatments and the control. Cluster and berry
length were not significantly affected by Ihe above canopy management treatments.
All canopy management applications increased T.S.S .• T.S.S.lacid ratio, anthocyanin
and total reserved carbohydrates in the new canes and decreased the total acidity
than the control.