The management of maturity indices by through leaf water potential and leaf removal and their effects on yield and quality of grape in cv. merlot

This study was carried out for two years in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 vegetation period in a private vigneron's vineyard located within the Sarkoy district of Tekirdag province. Leaf Water Potential applications (S0, S1, S2 and S3); in each subplot, a leaf removal was listed as Control (=No Leaf Removal) (C), Full Window (FW), Right Window (RW) and Left Window (LW). As a result, if aimed to slow down the sugar accumulation and controlling the maturity indexes and thus to manage the harvest date in the conditions of Tekirdag province in the Merlot grape variety, it might be preferred to remove the main leaves and lateral shoots in the 7th and 12th nodes by applying a FW application after the veraison. If the aim is the must quality with the increase of secondary metabolites; it is recommended that the RW application and keeping the vines at S2 stress level between veraison to harvest.