Bud level optimization for pruning in flame seedless grapes.

To standardize the pruning technique in Flame Seedless grapes under north-Indian conditions, an experiment was conducted over a period of three years from 2005–2007, at New Orchard of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The pruning of vines was done at four levels viz., 3, 4, 5 and 6 buds in the last week of January. The highest percentage of fruitful buds was observed in the treatment in which 4 buds per cane were retained. The number of bunches (64.1/vine), yield (25.8 Kg/vine) and brix yield (454.5) were significantly higher, when 4 buds were retained on each cane after pruning. Whereas, the minimum number of bunches (47.5/vine), yield (18.2Kg/vine) and brix yield (295.4) were obtained, when 6 buds per cane were left after pruning. The bunch weight and fruit quality parameters were also improved in the treatment in which 4 buds per cane was retained after pruning. On the basis of present study, it is recommended that in Flame Seedless grapes, the pruning should be done at 4 buds level for obtaining higher yield and better quality fruits.