Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India
* Part of a M.Sc. thesis submitted to the P.G. School, IARI, New Delhi by the senior author during 2000.
Pusa Navrang - a teinturier grape hybrid -was pruned at three different levels viz., 4, 6 and 8 buds per cane retaining uniformly 12 canes per vine on the ‘head’ system. Among the three pruning treatments, the highest yield (8.16 kg/vine) and the maximum number of bunches (36.2/vine) were obtained with pruning at 6 - bud level. The maximum bunch weight (234 g) along with its size (20.5 x 15.3 cm) was recorded at 4 - bud pruning. Similarly, the berry weight (1.5 g), TSS (17.8%) and juice percentage (74.5%) were the highest in the same treatment. Looking at the superior quality of grape berry at 4 - bud level, specially juice percentage and TSS as this variety is recommended for juice and coloured wines, it is advocated that comparatively higher yield obtained in 6 - bud level can be forgone.
