Use of garlic-based product associated with pruning on the performance of fine grapevines

ABSTRACT The wine industry is a very important activity on the national scenery, having important role in diversification and incorporation of income for small farms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intensities and pruning times associated with the use of products for bud breaking dormancy in Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevine varieties in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná State, Brazil. Two experiments were carried out, in which the experimental design was a randomized block design. The first experiment was done in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (three pruning intensities, (short, long, and mixed pruning) × two commercial products for bud breaking dormancy (Dormex® and Natualho®), containing five blocks and one plant/block, totaling 30 plants of Cabernet Franc grapevine variety grafted onto ‘RR 101-14’ rootstocks. Pruning and application of the products through spraying until complete wetting of the plants were carried out on August 17, 2013. The second experiment consisted of a 4 × 2 factorial scheme (four pruning times × two commercial products for bud breaking dormancy), containing four blocks and one plant/block, totaling 32 plants of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevine variety, grafted on the ‘RR 101-14’ rootstocks. After pruning in the two experiments, the following vegetative characteristics were evaluated: number of buds/plant; number of shoots/plant; phenological stage of “cotton bud”, used as sprouting pattern; percentage of sprouted buds; and length of time from pruning to stabilization of sprouting. Garlic extract did not show efficiency in the plant bud breaking dormancy. Variety Cabernet Franc showed better results in vegetative parameters when subjected to heavy pruning. The last pruning time showed better results for the vegetative characteristics of variety Cabernet Sauvignon.