Vegetative Response of Vitis vinifera to Prohexadione-calcium

Prohexadione-calcium (prohexadione-Ca) was evaluated for its ability to suppress vegetative growth of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) under field conditions. Two or three applications of 250 mg·L^-1 prohexadione-Ca reduced primary shoot growth of 'Cabernet Sauvignon', but had little effect on other canopy characteristics or cane pruning weights. The reduction of shoot growth was not persistent and shoot hedging was ultimately needed to avoid canopy shading. Similarly, three applications of either 125, 250, or 375 mg·L^-1 prohexadione-Ca reduced 'Cabernet franc' shoot growth, but again did not eliminate the need for shoot hedging. Cane pruning weights of 'Cabernet franc' were unaffected by treatment, and canopy characteristics were generally not improved. Two prebloom and one postbloom application of 250 mg·L^-1 prohexadione-Ca were evaluated on 'Cabernet franc'and 'Chardonnay' in separate field experiments. The prebloom treatments retarded shoot growth of 'Chardonnay', but had no effects on 'Cabernet franc' shoot characteristics. To retard shoot growth, prohexadione-Ca had to be applied prior to bloom; however, prebloom applications had the potential for severe reductions in crop yield.