Phenology, thermal requirements and maturation of the SR 0.501-17 white wine grape hybrid cultivated in contrasting climatic conditions

ABSTRACT The SR 0.501-17 grape hybrid developed for wine making purposes, is characterized for producing white grapes and small berries with seeds. The purpose of this study was to characterize the phenology, thermal requirements and must physicochemical characteristics of the hybrid, in contrasting climatic conditions due to altitude at Jundiaí (715m) and Votuporanga (483m) respectively located at east and northwest of the São Paulo State-Brazil. Evaluations were performed from 2012 to 2016 and observations during the vine growth period and data of phenology and must soluble solids content and acidity measurements at harvest were taken. Average duration of the pruning-harvest period was 146 and 131 days and grape maturation period was 29 and 27 days, respectively for Jundiaí and Votuporanga. Thermal requirement expressed in degree days for the hybrid growth cycle was 1663 and 1923, respectively for Jundiaí and Votuporanga. Rainfall during the maturation period showed negative correlation with total soluble solids and maturation index and positive correlation with titratable acidity. The effect of temperature on vine growth cycle were more pronounced in Jundiaí in comparison to Votuporanga while the effect of rainfall on the maturation characteristics were more effective in Votuporanga when compared to Jundiaí.