TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN Fachgebiet für Obstbau Effect of Horticultural Practices on Improving Productivity and Fruit Quality of ‘Crimson Seedless’ Grapes Emad El Din El Sayed Abdel Razek Mohamed Ali Vollständiger Abdruck der von der Fakultät Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt der Technischen Universität München zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. agr.) genehmigten Dissertation. Vorsitzender: Univ.-Prof. Dr. J. Meyer Prüfer der Dissertation: 1. Univ.-Prof. Dr. D. R. Treutter 2. Hon.-Prof. Dr. K. Wahl Die Dissertation wurde am 22.01.2008 bei der Technischen Universität München eingereicht und durch die Fakultät Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt am 04.03.2008 angenommen. DEDICATION To the spirit of my beloved mother, who learnt me the first words in my life, gave me her kindness, spent the nights to look after my childhood, and struggled in her life to breed, educate and humanize. To spirit of my lovely father, who embraced me during his life and learnt me the manliness and endurance. I dedicate all my achievements. I ask ALLAH to bestow the grace upon them, even as they cherished and reared me when I was a child Also, I ask ALLAH to forgive, and imparadise them. ۞۞۞۞۞ ACKNOWLEDGMENT Thanks ALLAH for helping me achieving this work. Without his guidance, this work would never have been accomplished. I would like to express my deepest thanks and greatful appreciation to my supervisor Prof. Dr. Dieter Treutter for accepting me as his Ph.D. student, for his competent supervision, continuous support to this work. I cannot forget his support since the first moment I arrived Germany, his waiting in Munich Airport to pick me up, his organization for my residence in Freising, his support to stay with my family and his kind invitations for me and my family. I would like to thank my colleagues at Unit of Fruit Science, TU München for their understanding, valuble advice and friendship. Thanks to Prof. Dr. W. Feucht who works with me during weekends and I always remember his words ‘The result is not the answer’. Greatful thanks to Dr. Susanne Rühmann for her courses, advices and her helping with her husband Albrecht for my family. Thanks a lot for Dr. Michael Neumüller for courses and advices. Many thanks to Anja Härter, Marlene Kramler and Kerstin Zofka for helping in this study. I have 2 mothers in Germany, they give me advices, they are Inge Lemberger and Rita Wimmer. Special thanks to Ludwig Lichtenegger and Ina Tittel for helping and friendship in Dürnast. My deepest heartfelt thankes to Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abou-Rawash, Professor of Pomology and Chairman of Horticulture Dept., Ain Shams University for his supervision, guidance and advice during my Ph.D. work in Egypt. Greatful appreciation and deeply indebted to Prof. Dr. Nazmi Abd El-Hamid, Professor of Pomology, Horticulture Dept., Ain Shams University for his scientific supervision, continuous help in the ‘Crimson Seedless’ vineyard, Ph.D. courses, laboratory work and his kind brotherhood. I am particularly grateful to Prof Dr. Mohamed Maher Saad Saleh and Prof Dr. Mahmoud Soliman El-Shamma, Pomology Dept., National research center (NRC), for their supervision, sincere scientific advice, valuable suggestions during my M.Sc. and Ph.D study in Egypt. I wish to thank all the staff members of the Pomology Department, National Researcher Centre (NRC) for their kind and assistance. I wish to express my special and immense thanks to my Egyptian Government represented in Ministry of Higher Education, Mission Dept. in Cairo and Cultural Dept. & Study Mission in Berlin, Germany for their financial support during my study in Germany. I wish to thank my wife Hala, my sons, El-Hassan and El-Hussein for their helpful support, permanent patience and continuous love. ۞۞۞۞۞ CONTENTS I TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION……………………….…………...………………………… 1 1.1 Description of ‘Crimson Seedless’ grape………………….……………… 1 1.2 ‘Crimson Seedless’ grape in the world………………………………...…. 2 1.3 Problems of ‘Crimson Seedless’ grapes…………………………..……… 3 1.4 Outline of the studied trails…..…………………………………………… 4 1.5 Objectives of this thesis…...…………………………………………..….. 4 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE…………………….…………………………… 5 2.1 Function of nitrogen and potassium in grapevine………………..………… 5 2.2 Effect of N and K fertilization on the nutritional status…………………… 7 2.3 Effect of N and K fertilization on productivity……….…………………..... 12 2.4 Effect of N and K fertilization on bud behavior……………..…….………. 16 2.5 Effect of N and K fertilization on growth ………..……..…………………. 17 2.5.1 Leaf area………………………………………………….…………... 17 2.5.2 Cane thickness……………………………………………..………….. 18 2.6 Effect of N and K fertilization on cluster characteristics……………...….... 19 2.6.1 Cluster weight……...…………………………………………..……… 19 2.6.2 Cluster dimension…………....…………………………………..……. 21 2.6.3 Number of berries per cluster and cluster compactness…………...….. 22 2.7 Effect of N and K fertilization on fruit quality……………………….....… 23 2.7.1 Fruit physical properties……………...……...……………………...… 24 2.7.1.1 Berry dimension, size and weight………………………………. 24 2.7.1.2 Berry firmness and adherence……………………….…………. 26 2.7.2 Fruit chemical properties…………………...…………….………… 26 2.7.2.1 T.S.S %…………..……...……….……………………………... 26 2.7.2.2 Acidity………………………………………………………..… 28 2.7.2.3 T.S.S/acid ratio…..…………………………………………..…. 29 2.7.2.4 Sugars fraction…………….……………..……………………... 30 2.7.2.5 Phenolic compounds (bioactive compounds)……………..……. 30 2.7.2.5.1 Phenolic compounds and human health..………………..….. 30 2.7.2.5.2 Flavonoids in grapes…………………………….…………... 31 2.7.2.5.3 Basic definition……………….…………………...………… 34 2.7.7.5.3.1 Non-flavonoid compounds group…………………...…. 34 II CONTENTS 2.7.7.5.3.1.1 Hydroxybenzoic acids………….……….……..….…. 34 2.7.7.5.3.1.2 Hydroxycinamic acid (phenylpropanoids) ………….. 35 2.7.7.5.3.1.3 Stilbenes (resveratrol)…...….……………………...... 36 2.7.1.5.3.2 Flavonoids compound group………………….…………….. 38 2.7.1.5.3.2.1 Flavones…..………..…………….………………….. 38 2.7.1.5.3.2.2 Flavonols……………………….…………………… 39 2.7.1.5.3.2.3 Dihydroflavonols………………………...………….. 40 2.7.1.5.3.2.4 Flavanones………...…………….…….…………….. 41 2.7.1.5.3.2.5 Flavan 3-ols.……...……………………………….… 42 2.7.1.5.3.2.6 Flavan 4-ols……………………………………….… 43 2.7.1.5.3.2.7 Flavan 3,4-diols (leucoanthocyanidin)..…………..… 43 2.7.1.5.3.2.8 Proanthocyanidins (codenensed tannins)…………… 44 2.7.1.5.3.2.9 Anthocyanins………..………………………….…… 46 2.7.1.5.3.2.10 Hydrolysis of procyanidins...…………………...…….. 48 2.7.1.5.3.2.11 Anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway……………..……. 49 2.7.1.5.3.2.12 Flavonol, anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway………… 50 2.7.1.5.3.2.13 Catechin, epicatechin, cyanidin biosynthetic pathway.. 51 2.7.1.5.3.2.14 Isoflavonoid…………………………………………... 52 2.7.1.5.4 Determination the flavonoids in grapes..………………………... 53 2.7.1.5.5 Flavonoids in grapes as affected by N&K fertilization.…….. 58 2.8 The benefit of defoliation and cluster thinning…………………………... 59 2.9 Effect of defoliation and defoliation and cluster thinning on cluster characteristics and fruit quality…………………………..………. 61 2.9.1 Cluster weight…………..……………………………………… 61 2.9.2 Cluster dimension…..………………………………………….. 62 2.9.3 Number of the berries per cluster……………….……………... 62 2.9.4 Berry weight and dimension…………….……………………... 63 2.9.5 T.S.S % and acidity………….………………………………… 64 2.9.6 Sugar fraction……………………………………….…………. 67 2.9.7 Flavonoids………………………………………………….….. 68 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS…………….……………………………….. 71 3.1 Plant materials and vineyard site………….……………………………….. 71 3.2 Treatments and experimental design……………………………...…….…. 72 CONTENTS IIIII 3.2.1 N and K fertilization experiment………………………………….… 72 3.2.2 Defoliation and fruit thinning experiment…………….…………….. 73 3.3 Measurements and chemical analysis…………………………………….…. 74 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS……………..………………………………. 81 4.1 Effect of N and K fertilization on the nutritional status……………………... 81 4.2 Effect of N and K fertilization on productivity…………………………..….. 84 4.3 Effect of N and K fertilization on bud behavior……………..………………. 85 4.4 Effect of N and K fertilization on growth …………………………………… 87 4.5 Effect of N and K fertilization on cluster characteristics…………….……… 89 4.6 Effect of N and K fertilization on fruit quality………………………………. 93 4.6.1 Fruit physical properties…………………….………………………….. 93 4.6.2 Fruit chemical properties………………………………………………. 97 4.6.2.1 T.S.S %, acidity and T.S.S/acid ratio…………………………….. 97 4.6.2.2 Sugar fraction………………………………………………...…... 101 4.6.2.3 Phenolic compound…………………………….………………… 104 4.6.2.3.1 Phenolic acids ……………………...………………………… 104 4.6.2.3.2 Stilbene derivative………………..…………………………… 108 4.6.2.3.3 Flavonol derivatives…….…………………………..………… 111 4.6.2.3.4 Flavan 3-ols……………..………………………..…………… 118 4.6.2.3.5 Anthocyanins………………...……………………….……….. 126 4.6.2.3.6 Other phenolic compounds…...……………………………….. 137 4.6.2.3.7 Total phenolic compound……..……………………..………… 149 4.7 Effect of defoliation and defoliation and cluster thinning on cluster characteristics and fruit quality………………………………………..……… 151 4.7.1 Cluster weight and dimension……………....………………….……… 151 4.7.2 Number of berries per cluster and cluster compactness…………….….. 153 4.7.3 Berry dimensions………………………………………………………. 154 4.7.4 Berry weight and volume……………………………………………..... 156 4.7.5 Berry softing, firmness and adherence……………….……………….... 158 4.7.6 T.S.S % and acidity……………………………………….………….… 160 4.7.7 Sugars fraction……………………………………………...………..… 164 4.7.8 Phenolic compounds.……………………………………………….….. 166 4.7.8.1 Phenolic acids ……………………. ...…………………………… 166 IV CONTENTS