Grapes 101: Bud Fruitfulness and Yield

Light exposure and bud fruitfulness

During bud development, the tissue within the bud can form either a tendril or a cluster during the process of differentiation. Whether they form tendrils or clusters depends heavily on the light environment.  Exposure of the buds to sunlight increases fruitfulness, and shading or low light intensity reduces it because the developing bud forms tendrils instead of clusters. Shading experiments have shown that this process is largely complete by about a month after bloom. A detailed study of several varieties in California (Sanchez and Dokoozlian, 2005) showed that bud fruitfulness generally increases with increasing shoot light exposure with at least one-third to one-half of the available sun. In a recent experiment on Concords in New York (see figure), shading for the first month after bloom resulted in a reduction from 2.5 to 2.0 clusters per shoot. Buds exposed to sunlight also had a higher tendency to push more than one shoot (i.e., primary and secondary shoots both grew), resulting in more clusters per retained node.

Weather and fruitfulness

In the cool and often cloudy climate of New York, sunlight intensity and temperature varies widely among years. Years with sunshine and heat around and after bloom result in higher bud fruitfulness, while cool, cloudy years tend to lower bud fruitfulness in the following year. Variation in bud fruitfulness is one of the most important factors explaining year to year differences in yield.

Bud position and fruitfulness

In some grape varieties, the first few nodes at the base of the shoot tend to be less fruitful than nodes in the mid-cane region. This is one reason why some varieties are cane-pruned rather than spur-pruned. 'Thompson Seedless' is notable for low bud fruitfulness in the first four nodes. Concord on high cordon is often pruned to 6-bud spurs because the first two to three nodes are less fruitful. This is illustrated by data from western New York, in which the weight of grapes harvested was separated out by shoot and cluster position. The greatest yield per node was obtained from nodes three to six, with crop weight declining at both lower and higher bud positions.

Many other wine grape varieties have more uniform bud fruitfulness across nodes and can be pruned to short two to three bud spurs without reducing potential yield.  

Primaries, secondaries and tertiaries

Within the compound bud, the primary bud reaches the most advanced stage of development and initiates more clusters than the secondary bud. Secondary buds are less fruitful than primary buds and rarely produce more than one or two clusters. Clusters from secondary buds typically have fewer flowers and berries than basal primary clusters. Secondary buds often remain dormant, but they can contribute to fruitfulness when double shoots —a primary and a secondary —emerge from the same node. However, secondary buds most often emerge only when the primary bud is damaged or winter-killed. The tertiary bud most often is not fruitful.

Yield per node 

Bud fruitfulness is only one component of yield.  The other factors that vary are flower number, berry number and berry weight.  The main branches of flower clusters (infloresence meristems) are formed by the time vines enter dormancy, but additional branching occurs during bud swell in the spring.  By budburst, flower number is set.  Fruit set following bloom varies from 20 to 70%, and is influenced by many factors such as variety and weather around bloom.  Some nodes push out both a primary and secondary shoot, increasing potential yield per node.  Final yield is determined by the number of clusters, berries per cluster, and berry weight. 

Pruning and  fruitfulness 

Shading and its impact on bud fruitfulness is the reason why its important to select well-exposed, moderate diameter canes for retention at pruning. Cane diameter is a good indicator of shoot vigor.  Both low-vigor (small diameter) and high-vigor (large diameter) canes tend to have lower bud fruitfulness. Training systems that work with the vine’s growth habit are designed to provide adequate sunlight exposure to the renewal zone (area retained for next year’s crop).

Frost injury and crop potential 

Secondary shoots tend to have one-third to one-half as many clusters as primary shoots – and have fewer flowers per cluster – particularly if primary shoots start to grow in the spring before a frost event.  If primaries freeze in midwinter, then the developing clusters in secondaries can produce more branches at budswell – but their development is inhibited when an actively-growing primary shoot is present. 

Hard information about yield potential of secondary buds that push when primary shoots get frosted is scarce – and fruitfulness of secondaries and ‘non-count’ base buds (latent buds emerging from trunks and cordons) varies greatly by cultivar.  Some hybrid varieties (eg. Dechaunac) tend to have fruitful base buds, while others (notably Concord and most vinifera) are not fruitful.  But a common rule of thumb is that secondary buds will produce about 30% of the crop that primaries are capable of producing.

Implications for management 

Understanding what bud fruitfulness is and how it varies is a key concept for grape growers.  Growers can maximize bud fruitfulness by choosing appropriate buds and canes that received the most sunlight exposure during the critical bud development period following bloom.  It’s also important to manage your vineyard to avoid excess vigor and shoot density.  Following frost injury to primary shoots, its important to realize that the vines are likely to be able to produce a lower, but not insignificant yield from secondary buds.  Finally, some varieties with fruitful ‘noncount’ base buds have the potential to produce a significant crop in addition to the crop potential present on ‘count’ buds.  These varieties will often require additional shoot or cluster thinning to avoid overcropping.

Tim Martinson is senior extension associate, Alan Lakso is professor, and Terry Bates is senior research associate with the department of horticulture.