Agronomic Aptitude and Quality of Vinifera Grapes in a Non-traditional of Culture Region in the Agreste of Pernambuco States

Aim: This study evaluate the agronomic and quality characteristics of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties in a non-traditional region of the Agreste of Pernambuco States.

Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five replications and eight plants per plot.

Place and Duration of Study: Was carried out in the municipality of Brejão, PE, at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of the Pernambuco. The vines were implanted on September, 2013, whose pruning was performed on August and harvesting began on December, 2016 to January, 2017.

Methodology: Ten treatments represented by the varieties of European vines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Syrah for producing of red wines and Chardonnay, Muscat Petit Grain, Sauvignon Blanc and Viogner for producing of white wines, grafted on the Paulsen 1103 rootstock were evaluated. The vineyard was conducted in espalier vine-tying system in double short pruning type, with spacing 3 m x 1 m. The characterization of the phenological stages was made using as reference the phenological scale. The thermal requirement of the crop per period was estimated. Agronomic characteristics were also evaluated, such as: fertility of gems, budding (%), production, productivity, number of bunches per plant, length and width of bunch, bunch weight, soluble solids, titratable acidity, hydrogen ionic potential, SS / TA ratio, volume of 100 berries, yield of must, mass of the husks and seeds. The data were submitted to two selection indices: Classic Index and Distance Genotype-Ideotype Index.

Results: Sprouting varied from 13.68% (Petit Verdot) to 81.6% (Sauvignon Blanc) and the fertility of gems from 0.1 bunch.bud-1 (Chardonnay) to 0.67 bunch.bud-1 (Sauvignon Blanc). The pruning cycle and Day Degrees (DD) cumulated ranged from 133 days and 1,684 DD (Muscat Petit Grain) to 167 days and 2,070 DD (Merlot Noir). The number of bunches ranged from five (Merlot Noir) to 29 bunches.plant-1 (Sauvignon Blanc). Muscat Petit Grain stood out for bunch weight, not differing from Syrah and Malbec. The varieties showed no difference in length and width of bunches. In the volume of 100 berries, Muscat Petit Grain (213.6 ml) and Malbec (216.0 ml) stood out. For the yield of must, Sauvignon Blanc (70.87%) stood out, not differing from Malbec (64.31%), Viognier (69.79%), Muscat Petit Grain (70.22%). Muscat Petit Grain, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier (white wine), Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot Noir and Syrah obtained acceptable values for soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio and pH. From the selection index analyzes, the Muscat Petit Grain, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties were indicated for the selection by the highest Mulamba and Mock index and by the Genotype-Ideotype distance index.

Conclusion: The cycle of grapevine varieties evaluated in the Garanhuns, PE, Microregion is longer than that observed in the sub Medio of the São Francisco Valley, similar to those in the South Region of Brazil. In the evaluated cycle the varieties produced grapes with characteristics suitable for the production of quality fine wines, showing to be promising for this non-traditional microregion in the production of fine grapes. From the selection index analyzes, the Muscat Petit Grain, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties were indicated for selection by the highest Mulamba and Mock index and Genotype-Ideotype distance index.