Relationship between Berry Set Density and Fruit Quality in 'Kyoho' Grape

The study was conducted to investigate the relationship between berry set density per bearing shoot and fruit quality in ‘Kyoho’ grape. Fruit quality was evaluated by soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), skin color, and total anthocyanin content (TAC). There was a sharp increase in SSC of fruit juice from veraison initiation to 30 days after veraison. The SSC level increased with the lower berry set per bearing shoot. The rapid accumulation of SSC 4 weeks after veraison in the cluster of low berry set (10-20) was observed, while that of high berry set (40-50) showed delayed and low SSC accumulation which reached only 15.0°Bx at harvest. TA of fruit juice in all treatments reduced rapidly from veraison initiation to 30 days after veraison, and then reduced gradually. TA in all treatments except 50 berries set reached to 0.4-0.6% which was optimal TA in ‘Kyoho’ at fruit harvest. During fruit maturing after veraison, fruit skin color changed from green to purple-black, L and b value decreased, and a value increased. TAC in 10 and 20 berries set was gradually increased to 2 weeks after veraison, sharply increased until 6 weeks after veraison, and then finally decreased, while TAC in content in 30, 40, and 50 berries set per annual shoot remained at low level. The results indicated that the number of berry set for good quality seemed to be 20 per bearing shoot in ‘Kyoho’ grape.