Phenology: a definition as it applies to the grapevine
It is the study of the sequence of plant development and is mainly concerned with the timing of specific stages of growth and development in the annual cycle.
Knowing grapevine phenology is helpful for the following reasons:
- Site and cultivar selection
- Vineyard design
- Planning of labor and equipment requirements
- Timing of cultural practices as part of vineyard management
Plants are smart enough to compensate for the temperature change as the seasons progress and can reset the phase of the clock. This synchronization of the circadian clock to the external environment is called entrainment. The grapevine's internal clock as well as their hormones are important in the seasonal progress of the grapevine from budbreak to what we ultimately desire, a great harvest.
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