The Effect of Bud Loading on the Ripening Dynamics of Sev Areni Grape Variety in Conditions of Organic Farming

Abstract

The aim of the work is to study the growing dynamics of total sugars, acids and phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanins) in Sev Areni grape berries in conditions of organic farming depending on the buds’ load rate.
The studies were conducted in 2020-2021. The vineyard belonging to “Hin Areni” CJSC, established in 2007-2008, is located in the Areni community of Vayots Dzor marz, at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. At the start of the trials, 5 hectares of the garden (10 ha) were cultivated with organic methods.
The experiments were carried out in four replications through the method of Lazarevskiy including 15 vines in each option. The dynamics of berry ripening was studied according to vine load. Sugar content (refractometric method), titratable acidity (using OIV-MA-AS313-01 method), pH, total phenolic content of fruit juice was determined three times.
According to study results, the amount of flavonoids and anthocyanins changes during grape ripening, depending on the vine load. Along with the grapes maturation, sugar content of the fruit juice increases, the acidity decreases. However, parallel to the increase in vine load, the sugar content decreases. In the option of 50 bud load the sugar content decreases.
The harvested yield lags behind the option of 30-40 bud load in its qualitative properties. Thus, it is not recommended to
use high bud loading option in the organic farming.
Based on the study results, it is recommended to use 30-40 bud vine loads of Sev Areni variety in conditions of vineyards organic farming.