Module_9_Pruning_Principles_and_Timing

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of pruning grapevines?

Answer 1

To regulate crop load, maintain vine shape, and balance vegetative and reproductive growth.

Question 2

What are the two main types of pruning?

Answer 2

Winter (dormant) pruning and summer (green) pruning.

Question 3

When is winter pruning performed?

Answer 3

During dormancy, typically between leaf fall and late winter before budburst.

Question 4

What is the objective of winter pruning?

Answer 4

To remove excess one-year-old canes and retain appropriate fruiting positions for next season.

Question 5

What determines the number of buds left after pruning?

Answer 5

Vine vigor, variety, and training system.

Question 6

What is the general relationship between pruning severity and vine vigor?

Answer 6

Heavier pruning increases vigor; lighter pruning reduces vigor.

Question 7

What is the difference between cane pruning and spur pruning?

Answer 7

Cane pruning retains one or more canes with several buds; spur pruning retains short spurs with 1–3 buds.

Question 8

Which training systems commonly use cane pruning?

Answer 8

Guyot and Scott Henry systems.

Question 9

Which training systems commonly use spur pruning?

Answer 9

Cordon-trained systems like Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP).

Question 10

What is a renewal spur?

Answer 10

A short spur left near the base of a cane to provide a new fruiting cane for the following year.

Question 11

Why is pruning timing important?

Answer 11

Early pruning can advance budburst; late pruning delays it and reduces frost risk.

Question 12

How can delayed pruning help avoid frost damage?

Answer 12

By postponing budburst in vulnerable varieties or sites.

Question 13

What is double pruning?

Answer 13

Initial rough pruning in early winter followed by final pruning closer to budburst to delay shoot growth.

Question 14

How does bud position on a cane influence fruitfulness?

Answer 14

Basal buds are often less fruitful; fruitfulness increases toward the middle buds.

Question 15

What part of the vine produces next season’s shoots and fruit?

Answer 15

Compound buds located in the leaf axils of current season shoots.

Question 16

What is the purpose of suckering?

Answer 16

To remove unwanted shoots from the trunk or base of the vine.

Question 17

Why is spur position important in pruning?

Answer 17

Ensures proper spacing for airflow, light penetration, and renewal growth.

Question 18

How does pruning affect crop yield?

Answer 18

Directly influences the number of shoots and clusters retained for the season.

Question 19

What is the main risk of over-pruning?

Answer 19

Excessive vigor, shading, and delayed fruit ripening.

Question 20

What is the main risk of under-pruning?

Answer 20

Overcropping, reduced shoot vigor, and poor fruit quality.

Question 21

How can pruning wounds lead to disease?

Answer 21

They serve as entry points for trunk diseases such as Eutypa and Botryosphaeria.

Question 22

How can pruning wound infection be minimized?

Answer 22

Prune late, apply wound protectants, and avoid wet conditions.

Question 23

Why is vine balance a key pruning goal?

Answer 23

To maintain equilibrium between canopy size and fruit yield for consistent quality.

Question 24

What are non-count shoots?

Answer 24

Shoots that arise from latent or non-fruiting buds, often near the base of spurs.

Question 25

Why are non-count shoots sometimes retained?

Answer 25

They can be used as renewal spurs for next season’s growth.

Question 26

How does pruning influence vine longevity?

Answer 26

Proper pruning maintains vine health and structural integrity over time.

Question 27

Why should pruning tools be sterilized?

Answer 27

To prevent spread of fungal and bacterial diseases between vines.

Question 28

What is mechanical pruning?

Answer 28

Use of machines to cut shoots uniformly across vines, often followed by manual touch-up pruning.

Question 29

What are advantages of mechanical pruning?

Answer 29

Reduces labor cost and time requirements in large vineyards.

Question 30

What are disadvantages of mechanical pruning?

Answer 30

Less precision, uneven bud numbers, and potential vine imbalance.

Question 31

What is minimal pruning?

Answer 31

A low-input method leaving many buds to balance vigor and reduce labor.

Question 32

In which climates is minimal pruning most effective?

Answer 32

Warm, dry regions with low disease pressure and strong vine vigor.

Question 33

How does pruning severity affect berry composition?

Answer 33

Lighter pruning may lead to smaller berries with higher concentration; heavy pruning can dilute flavors.

Question 34

When should pruning be avoided?

Answer 34

During freezing or wet conditions that increase disease susceptibility.

Question 35

How can sap bleeding indicate vine activity?

Answer 35

It signals xylem reactivation and root pressure before budburst.

Question 36

What is a balanced pruning formula?

Answer 36

A method to determine bud number based on pruning weight (e.g., 20 + 10 rule).

Question 37

What does the '20 + 10 rule' mean in pruning?

Answer 37

Leave 20 buds for the first pound of canes pruned, plus 10 buds for each additional pound.

Question 38

How does pruning weight relate to vine vigor assessment?

Answer 38

Heavier pruning weights indicate vigorous vines needing fewer retained buds.