Yield potential of grapevine cultivated under plastic cover

Abstract

^{The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of plastic cover on the yield components of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar Moscato Giallo. The experiment was carried out in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 crop seasons, in Flores da Cunha, RS, Brazil, in two vineyard areas, one covered with an impermeable plastic film and other without covering (control). The microclimate was evaluated in terms of air temperature, air relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation and wind speed above canopy and close to clusters. The yield components were evaluated in a completely randomized design, in ten plants randomly selected in each area. Measures were made for production per plant, yield per hectare, clusters per vine, clusters per square meter, twigs per square meter, weight and length of clusters, weight of rachis, number of berries per cluster, diameter of berries, and skim/pulp ratio. Plastic cover promotes yield increases, does not affect pulp/skin ratio, and promotes production stability, independently of climate conditions in each season.}