Training systems, rootstocks and climatic conditions influence quality and antioxidant activity of ‘BRS Cora’ grape

Abstract

Environmental and production factors might affect grapevine physiology. Estimating these effects is essential for planning the harvest and predicting the quality of grapes. The aim of this study was to characterize the quality and antioxidant potential of ‘BRS Cora’ grapes with different training systems and rootstocks in production cycles of the second half of the year under tropical conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks with sub-subdivided plots over time. Three training systems and two rootstocks were studied in production cycles referring to the second halves of 2017 and 2018. In 2017, the grapes of plants trained with lyre and vertical shoot positioning (VSP) had the highest soluble solids and sugars contents, and in 2018, this response occurred with the overhead trellis system. There was lower variation in titratable acidity between cycles of grapevines trained with VSP and lyre, as well as in those grafted onto ‘IAC 572’. In 2018, lyre with ‘IAC 572’ promoted higher pigment accumulation. Climatic conditions in 2017 provided a higher accumulation of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in grapes of plants trained with lyre with ‘IAC 766’. The efficiency of the training system within each cycle, associated with the effect of the rootstock, resulted in differentiated responses according to climatic conditions.