Author(s)

Amanda L. Uhls¹, Nolan Jolley², Tony V. Johnston², John D. DuBois^1*

¹Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA.
²School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA.

Vitis aestivalis “Norton/Cynthiana” is a grape native to North America and utilized in the commercial wine industry. The purpose of this research was to determine the appropriate time of year and/or time after last freeze that will yield the most successful propagation rate for Vitis aestivalis. It was hypothesized that the highest rate of propagation would be in early summer. During a year-long study (2015-2016), forty cuttings were taken semi-monthly from a vineyard, treated with 0.1% IBA and placed in a plant growth room set to spring conditions. Daily temperatures were recorded every day as well. In a follow-up study, cuttings were taken weekly from early spring before vine budding until late fall (2017) and treated as previous. After six weeks, cuttings were evaluated for root production. In both studies, rooting success rates were the highest in the month of June at 10.0% - 27.5%, with rates less than 7.5% for all other sampling dates. It was determined that the best time to propagate Vitis aestivalis is in June, 10 - 12 weeks after the last temperature below 0°C or eight to ten weeks after the first budding.

Vitis aestivalis, Norton, Cynthiana, Grape, Propagation, Rooting

Uhls, A. , Jolley, N. , Johnston, T. and DuBois, J. (2018) The Effect of Sample Date and Timing of Cuttings for Maximum Propagation Efficiency of the Grape, Vitis aestivalis “Norton/Cynthiana”. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 9, 268-276. doi: 10.4236/fns.2018.93021.