Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE IMPACT OF VEGETABLE OIL SPRAY ON BERRY THINNING AND QUALITY IN GRAPEVINE CV. ‘KESHMESHI’

Fatemeh Sadeghian, Esmaeil Seifi, Ali Dadar, Mahdi Alizadeh and Mehdi Sharifani

Abstract

The effects of foliar application of soybean and corn oils during full bloom and two weeks later on yield, yield components and fruit juice quality of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. ‘Keshmeshi’ were studied. The results showed that the application of vegetable oils decreased the berry number and increased berry length, berry weight and soluble solids. The application of different oil concentrations did not have any significant effect on almost all quantitative and qualitative attributes. Furthermore, it was found that the different levels of oil concentration had no significant difference on the weight of cluster, but it had a significant effect on the weight of berry was observed. The time of oil spray had no significant effect on the weight of cluster, but it caused a significant effect on the weight of berry. The lowest weight of berry (1.58 g) was related to the %0 oil level (control). The oil application at the rate of 4% caused higher blistering of leaves as well as berries.