Response of Vidal 256 Grapevines to the Geneva Double Curtain and Six Cane Kniffin Training Systems as Grown in South Central Pennsylvania

Abstract

Plants of Vidal 256 (commonly known as 'Vidal Blanc'), a white wine cultivar, were planted in 1972 at the Fruit Research Laboratory of The Pennsylvania State University, Biglerville, Pa. Initial commercial production was realized in the 1974 season. Growth and production were excellent and vines survived temperatures of –22C with no apparent adverse effect. An inverse relationship between pruning weights and production was evident, as Geneva Double Curtain (GDC)-trained vines produced significantly more fruit and less wood than vines trained to the Six Cane Kniffin (SCK) system. Must quality differences—percent soluble solids, must pH and total acidity—were not evident between vines trained to those two systems. Must pH values were higher than expected, which may have been a reflection of the technique used in sample preparation. Several vineyard factors—yield, foliar levels of P, Fe and B—were associated with wine pH levels. Mean values for 10 essential mineral nutrients did not reveal differences due to training system.