Phenological Changes of Shoot Carbohydrates and Plant Growth Characteristics in Vitis Labrusca L. Grape

Abstract

Stored carbohydrates are used to supply energy in the next season for shoot growing, flowering and ripening in grapevines. Carbohydrates are transfers from storage organs to growth areas following the bud burst in spring. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of different rootstocks on growth characteristics and phenological changes of shoot carbohydrates in 10 years-old Vitis labrusca L. grapes. The grapevines are grafted on 140Ru, 5BB and 5C rootstocks. In the experiment; changes of sugar, starch and total carbohydrate contents in annual shoots were investigated in different phenological stages. While the highest sugar and total carbohydrate content of shoots were determined in veraison period on 5BB grafted grapevines, starch content was high in the harvest on 140Ru. While the highest mean and total leaf areas were calculated in grapevines grafted on 140Ru rootstock, shoot length and diameter was the highest on 5BB rootstock. Leaf chlorophyll content was the highest in blooming period on 5C grafted grapevines. The heavier fruit clusters, berries and total yield per vine were obtained on 5BB grafted vines. In this study, 5BB rootstock was found to be favorable in terms of shoot carbohydrate content and growth characteristics for Vitis labrusca L. grape.