What is the species that the vast majority of grape varieties belong to?
Vitis vinifera
This species is indigenous to Eurasia.
Name the four sections of a vine’s structure.
- Shoots
- One-year-old wood
- Permanent wood
- Roots
These sections collectively describe the anatomy of the vine.
What are the major structures of the shoots on a vine?
- Buds
- Leaves
- Tendrils
- Lateral shoots
- Inflorescences/grape bunches
These structures are collectively called the canopy.
What are nodes and internodes in the context of vine shoots?
- Nodes: Little swellings where structures are attached
- Internodes: Lengths in between the nodes
These terms describe the physical structure of the vine shoots.
What happens to the shoots in late summer?
Leaves fall and shoots lignify
From this point, they are referred to as canes.
What are the two main types of buds on a vine?
- Compound buds
- Prompt buds
Compound buds produce shoots in the next growing season, while prompt buds form and break open in the same growing season.
What is the function of lateral shoots on a vine?
Allow the plant to continue growing if the primary shoot is damaged
They can also provide additional leaves for photosynthesis.
True or false: Lateral shoots can produce inflorescences known as a ‘second crop’.
TRUE
This depends on the grape variety and canopy management techniques.
What are tendrils used for in grapevines?
Support the vine by attaching to other plants or trellis
They help keep the canopy in place.
What is the main site of photosynthesis in the vine?
Leaves
Sugars produced are used for vine growth and metabolism.
What is an inflorescence?
A cluster of flowers on a stem that becomes a bunch of grapes
The number of inflorescences can depend on the grape variety.
What is a bunch of grapes?
A fertilised inflorescence
Not all flowers in the inflorescence will successfully become grapes.
What are the three main components of a grape?
- Pulp
- Skin
- Seeds
Each component plays a role in the grape’s characteristics.
What does one-year-old wood refer to in viticulture?
Shoots from the previous growing season that were not removed at pruning
It supports the compound buds for the upcoming growing season.
What is permanent wood in a vine?
Woody parts older than one year, including the trunk
It provides support and transports water and nutrients.
What is the primary function of roots in a vine?
Anchoring the vine and uptake of water and nutrients
Roots also store carbohydrates and produce hormones for growth.
What are the two main methods of vine propagation?
- Cuttings
- Layering
Cuttings are the most common method, allowing for the use of rootstocks.
What is clonal selection in viticulture?
Selecting vines with favorable characteristics for propagation
This leads to different ‘clones’ within a grape variety.
What is mass selection?
Taking cuttings from several different vines for propagation
This method increases diversity in planting material.
What is an advantage of mass selection in vineyards?
- Increases diversity of planting material
- Uses unique planting material from the vineyard owner
- Enhances fruit quality and/or yield
- Can be used as a marketing asset
Mass selection allows vineyard owners to propagate their best vines, but it can be costly in terms of time and labor.
What is a disadvantage of mass selection?
- Costly in terms of time and labor
- Risk of spreading diseases from parent vine to new vines
If the parent vine is infected by disease, this can be passed onto the new vines.
How are new grape varieties typically produced?
- From seeds
- Through cross fertilisation
Pollen from one vine’s stamens is transferred to another vine’s stigmas, leading to fertilisation.
What is the term for offspring when both parent vines are from the same species?
Cross
Example: Pinotage is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut.
What is the term for offspring when parent vines are from different species?
Hybrid
Example: Vidal Blanc is a hybrid from Ugni Blanc and a member of the Seibel family.
