Statewide Viticulture Extension Program
Timely information for grape growers and educators.
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Tuesday 15 Sep 2009
Veraison to Harvest Archive Moved
Veraison to Harvest is a weekly newsletter published from early September through the end of October. It includes articles on managing grapes and winemaking issues during the crucial post-veraison ripening period. It also includes laboratory analysis of fruit chemistry from sites across New York. It is distributed electronically to winemakers, winery owners, and grape growers across New York.
Current and past issues are available at:
http://www.grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/extension/vtoh.php
Friday 19 Jun 2009
Research Focus: UV Light and Powdery Mildew
Plexiglas roofs shield vines from UV light
Driving west from the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, you will see these plexiglas roofs constructed over the top of Chardonnay vines. Their purpose is to prevent ultraviolet radiation from reaching the leaves and clusters. Dr. Wayne Wilcox, plant pathologist, and his graduate student Craig Austin are using this setup to study the impact of UV light on the powdery mildew fungus. Over the past 2 growing seasons they have found more powdery mildew under the plexiglas roofs than on uncovered vines exposed to UV light. Their conclusion? UV light kills some of the powdery mildew fungi, greatly reducing powdery mildew development – and underscoring the importance of canopy management to increase sunlight exposure as part of an integrated management program for powdery mildew. Indeed, in rows without plexiglass protection, cluster disease on VSP-trained vines was reduced by 35% in 2008 when one leaf was pulled above and below each cluster 2 weeks post-bloom compared with Umbrella Kniffen-trained vines where no leaf pulling was practiced.
Tuesday 16 Jun 2009
Research Focus: Grape Breeders Bag Clusters
At NYS Agricultural Experiment Station vineyards in Geneva, NY, bagged grape flower clusters are a familiar sight in mid June. Grape Breeder Bruce Reisch’s program emasculates and cross-pollinates grape flowers to produce hybrid seeds for further planting and testing by the program. Up to 5,000 seedlings are produced from about 40 crosses each year, and less than 5% meet the necessary criteria for further testing by the program. Data on vine performance is collected for at least 5 growing seasons, and test wines are made and evaluated at the same time. After 15 to 30 years, the most promising seedlings may be named and released as new grape varieties. Pollen from Vitis cinerea will soon be applied to this cluster of ‘Horizon’ as part of an ongoing genetic study on the inheritance of powdery mildew resistance, an important objective in the wine grape breeding program.
Tuesday 16 Jun 2009
Greg Loeb Insect and Mite Pest Management Article 2009
Dr. Greg Loeb, Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University writes an annual vineyard insect and mite pest management article. Here it is (pdf):
Tuesday 28 Apr 2009
Wayne Wilcox 2009 Annual Disease Management Article
Dr. Wayne Wilcox, Professor of Plant Pathology, writes an annual grape Disease Management article for growers. Here’s the 2009 version:
Wednesday 17 Dec 2008
Total Quality Focus Project Summaries
The New York Wine and Grape Foundation’s Total Quality Focus program funded 13 research and extension projects in 2007 and 2008, ranging from support for Veraison to Harvest newsletter to targeted research projects in enology/winemaking technology, viticulture, insect, disease, and weed management, and Concord/Niagara juice quality.
The pdf document linked below briefly describes all the projects funded in 2007 and 2008
Thursday 04 Dec 2008
Canopy Management for Hybrids
This article appeared in June issues of Finger Lakes Vineyard Notes, Lake Erie Vineyard notes, and Hudson Valley Vineyard Notes, and describes canopy management and thinning options suitable for hybrid wine varieties trained high with procumbent (downward or drooping) growth habit:
Friday 22 Aug 2008
Grapevine Leafroll Survey
The article posted below describes results of a survey of 95 vineyards in the Finger Lakes for presence of grapevine leafroll virus, and an additional survey tracking the impact of leafroll on fruit maturity:
grapevine-leafroll-virus-an-increasing-problem.pdf
Sunday 17 Aug 2008
A Day with Germplasm Resources Workshop Highlights Grape Genetics and Breeding work at Geneva
Geneva, NY.  A group of 35 extension educators, Cornell scientists and graduate students, and industry people from throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Ontario converged at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station August 11 and 12 for a workshop highlighting grape genetics and breeding research at Geneva. Continue Reading »
Wednesday 13 Aug 2008
Pictures from ‘A Day With Grape Germplasm’ workshop
Here are some Photos from ‘A day with Grape Germplasm Resources’ workshop held at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY on August 12.
Peter Cousins, USDA ARS scientist with Grape Germplasm Research Unit in the Grapevine Germplasm Collection at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva
Dr. Bruce Reisch, grape breeder with Dept. Horticultural Sciences at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, demonstrates differences in grapevine resistance to downy mildew at his ‘no-spray’ grapevine nursery, where new crosses are evaluated.
Attendees at the August 12 A Day with Germplasm Resources Workshop held at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY.
For Full sized photo click on thumbnail below:
