The low bud fertility has been one of the most limiting factors in vineyards at São Paulo State, and this problem has been correlated, in many cases, to the excess of plant vigor. In this context, a trial was carried out in a commercial vineyard of 'Rubi' table grape, located at Palmeira D'Oeste (SP), Brazil. The experimental design was in complete randomized blocks with six treatments and four replications. The vine shoots were sprayed with paclobutrazol at 0; 500; 1,000; 1,500; 2,000 and 2,500 mgL-1, at the fifth leaf phenological stage. The variables evaluated were: percentage of fertile buds; percentage of bud necrosis; fresh weight and length of shoots and diameter of internodes. Applications of paclobutrazol reduced the weight and the length of shoots and the internodes diameter. The percentage of fertile buds was also reduced, probably due to the decreasing in endogenous gibberellin levels necessary for uncommitted primordia formation.
Vitis vinifera; grapes; plant growth regulator; flowering physiology
