American Journal of Enology and Viticulture · 1981 · 14 citations · 0 references
AgricultureHorticultural SciencesPlant SciencesFruit ScienceGrapevine PhysiologyVineyard ManagementBerry DevelopmentBerry RipeningFruit PhysiologyFruit RipeningRipening ManagementRipening PhysiologyFruit Development StagesSoluble Solids AccumulationSoluble Solids ContentVine Water StatusWater Relations During RipeningWater Status Effects On RipeningWater Stress Effects On RipeningWater Stress Physiology
In a study conducted for two seasons in a vineyard of the University of California at Davis, ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) was applied at véraison to Zinfandel vines maintained under three regimes of water supply, viz., maximally stressed, moderately stressed and minimally stressed. There were significant interactions between the responses to ethephon and vine water regime on fruit development and composition. In general, the data demonstrate that water stress retarded the accumulation of soluble solids and berry size while ethephon caused enhancement. Differences in fruit composition and size at harvest are considered the product of these opposing influences.