EFFECT OF SUMMER PRUNING AND THINNING ON GROWTH AND FRUITTING OF KING RUBY GRAPES

Abstract

Mature Ruby seedless grapevi nes grown in a private orchard at Cairo- Ai exandri a desert rood, in sandy soil under drip i rri gat i on system, spaced (1.25 x 3. 5)m.cordon trained with (Y) shape system. The foiiowina treatments were appl i ed, manual thinning of clusters . removi ng laterals , pi nchi ng main shoots and thear combinations. The obtained results are summeri zed as fall - i oivs . . a) Pruni na treat aments enhanced maturity by 7-14 days . b) The yield was significantly higher in untreated trees. c) Percentage of shot berries was higher in untredted trees. d) The combined manual thinning of clustet to 15 clusters +- pinching main shoots + removing laterals resulted in the highest berry weight , size, length and diameter , i ncreazed T.S.S and ant hocyani n, whi / e decreased acidity.