Influence of pruning severity on yield and quality of Himrod grape under Kashmir conditions

The experiment was laid down in randomized block design (factorial) with 3 levels each of buds/cane (4, 5 and 6 buds/cane) and canes/vine (12, 16 and 20 cane/vine). Maximum yield of 11.53 and 12.44 kg/vine was obtained when vine retain 4 buds/cane and 12 canes/vine respectively. However, interaction effect of bud/cane and cane/vine showed higher yield (13.30 kg/vine) with 12 canes/vine and 5 buds/cane (60 buds/vine). An increase in canes/vine and buds/cane resulted in decrease in total yield. Maximum bunch weight of 138.12 and 152.24 g were recorded with pruning severity of 5 buds/cane and 12 canes/vine, respectively. Neither TSS nor acidity of the berries were significantly affected with different levels of buds/cane or by the canes/vine. The study suggests that Himrod cultivar should be pruned with 5 buds/cane and 12 canes/vine (60 buds/vine) for maximum productivity without altering berry quality in temperate climate of Kashmir valley.