1
Horticulture Crops Research Department, Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), AREEO, Shahrood, Iran.
2
مرکز تحقیقات کشاورزی قزوین
Abstract
Spring frosts represent a severe threat to grape production worldwide. Newly developed buds in the early spring season are highly sensitive to low temperatures, and their loss leads to a significant reduction in both yield and fruit quality. Late winter pruning is a promising, physiology-based strategy to mitigate spring frost damage in vineyards by intentionally delaying the budburst of basal buds, this method allows the plant to escape critical frost periods. The technique leverages the principle of apical dominance; delaying pruning and maintaining long canes until early spring causes the terminal buds to burst first, thereby postponing the development of the basal buds. However, the successful implementation of this method requires precise management of nutrition, irrigation, and disease control. While studying and adapting late pruning to specific local climates and different grapevine cultivars can help develop more accurate protocols, integrating it with other established frost protection methods further enhances its effectiveness. Studies on various grapevine cultivars indicate that late pruning can delay budburst by 15 to 20 days, thereby significantly mitigating spring frost damage. This publication specifically addresses the application of late pruning in vineyards as a strategy to prevent spring frost injury, while examining the associated management challenges and its impacts on yield and fruit quality
Parvaneh, T. , Mohammadi Moghadam, M. and Ghasemi, M. (2026). Late winter pruning of grapevines: A strategy to reduce spring frost damage. Extension Grape Magazine, 8(1), 46-57.
MLA
Parvaneh, T. , , Mohammadi Moghadam, M. , and Ghasemi, M. . "Late winter pruning of grapevines: A strategy to reduce spring frost damage", Extension Grape Magazine, 8, 1, 2026, 46-57.
HARVARD
Parvaneh, T., Mohammadi Moghadam, M., Ghasemi, M. (2026). 'Late winter pruning of grapevines: A strategy to reduce spring frost damage', Extension Grape Magazine, 8(1), pp. 46-57.
CHICAGO
T. Parvaneh , M. Mohammadi Moghadam and M. Ghasemi, "Late winter pruning of grapevines: A strategy to reduce spring frost damage," Extension Grape Magazine, 8 1 (2026): 46-57,
VANCOUVER
Parvaneh, T., Mohammadi Moghadam, M., Ghasemi, M. Late winter pruning of grapevines: A strategy to reduce spring frost damage. Extension Grape Magazine, 2026; 8(1): 46-57.
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