Controllo della produttività e della maturazione tecnologica dell’uva mediante interventi tardivi di rifinitura della potatura invernale

The aim of this research was to verify the possibility of limiting yield and delaying grape sugar accumulation with postponement of finishing winter pruning after bud break in vines mechanically pre-pruned in February. In 2014 and 2015, in a spur-pruned Sangiovese vineyard, the finishing winter pruning treatments were carried out at BBCH0 (buds still dormant), BBCH15 and BBCH55 (when the apical shoots on the canes retained on vines with mechanical pre-pruning treatment were 10 and 20 cm long, respectively). Contrary to BBCH55 treatment, where the yield was drastically reduced (-49%), the results show that this technique, simple and cheaper, applied at BBCH15 can be useful in all situations where are required: 1) contain vine yield; 2) delay the technological ripening and maintain higher titratable acidity; 3) improve the phenolic compounds in grape and wine; 4) delay the useful period of grape harvest in specific vineyards, as can be required when close to high acreage of the same grapevine cultivar or different cultivars with contemporaneous ripeness can be need to avoid early racking with lost of color, tannins and aromatic compounds.