The effect of irrigation on the bud fruitfulness of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar ‘Hárslevelű’

In this study bud fruitfulness and canopy characteristics of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar ‘Hárslevelű’ was investigated for 3 consecutive years (2021-2023) influenced by irrigation methods. Monitoring was carried out in the Neszmély wine region in Hungary. We investigated the number of opened buds (leaf on pruning elements), number of opened hidden buds (i.e., water sprouts), number of twin shoots, total number of fertile shoots, total number of inflorescences on the shoots resulting from the buds of the pruning elements, number of inflorescences per shoot resulting from the buds of the pruning elements, total number of inflorescences on water sprouts, and number of inflorescences per water sprouts according to visual inspection 3 weeks after bud break. Results showed that there are significant differences related to the twin shoots among the investigated years and treatments. Percent of the dormant buds showed also significant differences. Percent of water sprouts compared to the sum of shoots significantly differed between the rainfed plants in 2021 and subsoil irrigated plants in 2022. The results suggest that both irrigation regime and vintage can have an effect on the bud fruitfulness of the vines.