EVALUATION OF THE TYPE OF PRUNING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT VINES
VITES QUALITAS aims to improve the quality and longevity of the vineyards in the POCTEEFA area, through one of the trials of the project in which the influence of the type of pruning on the development of adult vines and the incidence of wood diseases will be evaluated.
Between February and March 2020, technicians from INRAE and UPNA came to mark the trials in vineyards on both sides of the border, 2 in France (INRAE) and 2 in Spain (UPNA), and in March the different types of pruning were carried out.The aim of this task is to evaluate how the type of maintenance pruning done during the lifetime of the vineyard influences the subsequent development of the vineyard and its longevity. This work will be carried out in 4 adult commercial vineyards: 2 in France (INRAE) and 2 in Spain (UPNA), where there is a reasonable degree of uniformity between vines. These were the 4 treatments established:
T1: Pruning by the winegrower.


Figure 1. Pruning by the winegrower.
T2: Respectful pruning (leaving protection wood. Whenever possible, 1.5 times the diameter of the cut).


Figure 2. . Respectful pruning (leaving protection wood).
T3: Respectful pruning, following the flow of sap and leaving wood for protection.


Figure 3. Respectful pruning, following the flow of sap and leaving wood for protection
T4. Aggressive pruning (without respecting the flow of sap, or leaving protective wood)


Figure 4. Aggressive pruning
To characterize the starting situation of the treatments, the stem diameter of all the strains of each treatment in the trial was measured.

This test will be carried out during the following two winters (Feb’21 and Feb’22) following the 4 models of pruning so that the effects can be accumulated. The joint analysis of the data will make it possible to see the effect of the type of pruning on the behaviour of the vines and the incidence of wood diseases in the POCTEFA territory. UPNA will coordinate with ICVV and INRAE to establish the trials and prepare the final report.