Comparative study of vine morphology, growth, and canopy development in cane-pruned and minimal-pruned Sultana

The seasonal development of vine canopy size and vine morphology of minimal- and cane-pruned Sultana was examined by destructive harvests during the 1982-83 growth period. Leaf canopies of minimal-pruned vines developed more quickly, grew larger, and filled sooner than those of cane-pruned vines. Minimal-pruned vines had 4 times the number of shoots and 3 times the number of nodes on current seasons's shoots at 34 days after budburst. This largely explains the more rapid canopy development and fill of minimal-pruned vines. Minimal pruning had a stunting effect on growth, resulting in shorter shoots, shorter internodes, and smaller leaves compared with cane pruning. Indirect optical measurements of the seasonal leaf canopy development of Sultana vines in the same experimental vineyard during the 1991-92 growth period confirmed the results obtained in 1982-83.