Variation in Total Phenolic Compounds, Anthocyanin and Monoterpene Content of 'Muscat Hamburg' Table Grape Variety (V-vinifera L.) as Affected by Cluster Thinning and Early and Late Period Basal Leaf Removal Treatments

Abstract

Cluster thinning (CT) and basal leaf removal (BLR) are common canopy management practices used in grape growing. In recent years, novel viticultural techniques have been evolved all around the world to decrease costs of yield management, causing improvement in grape quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CT and early and late period BLR treatments on yield and quality components of cv. 'Muscat Hamburg'. While BLR treatments were performing at pre-bloom (PB, early), berry set (BS), berries with pea size (PS), verasion (V), CT treatment was conducted at verasion period. Compared to Control, while the total phenolic compounds content, total anthocyanin content, free volatile terpenes content and potentially volatile terpenes content were made better by CT treatment and BLR treatments applied from berry set to verasion period gradually raised all these quality components. As a result, BLR-PB treatment from BLR treatments, which was alternative to usual cluster thinning treatment in yield controlling grapevines was especially determined as powerful tool for improving quality characteristics of cv. 'Muscat Hamburg'.