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88 WINES&VINES May 2016 GRAPEGROWING WINE EAST al. 2006) may hinder their ac- ceptance on varieties where crop r e d u c t i o n i s u n d e s i r a b l e o r unnecessary. Among other factors, yield reductions will depend on the percentage of leaf area removed, variety and weather conditions. For example, pulling just three to four leaves per shoot may do little to reduce cluster compact- ness on an extremely tight vari- e t y s u c h a s P i n o t G r i s , a n d pulling seven to eight leaves per shoot may reduce fruit set (and yield) too much. Therefore, it may be advisable to apply this treatment to just a few vines ini- tially, alternating "treated" vines with "non-treated" vines (as checks for comparison) along, say, 10 or 20 vines in a row. Cane pruning using non-de- foliated renewals from the previ- ous year will eliminate negative effects on bud development from early defoliation (Sabbatini and Howell, 2010). However, mecha- nization will preclude the use of non-defoliated renewals. Leav- ing more buds can mean more clusters and less reduction in yield. Managing these factors enabled researchers at the LER- GREC eventually to eliminate yield reductions in their trial with Chardonnay while main- taining rot reductions at harvest, particularly in years when fruit- set (and cluster compactness) was naturally high. Summary As the wine grape industry in the eastern United States con- tinues to expand, so do the chal- lenges to the sustainability and consistency of bunch rot control strategies in susceptible wine grape varieties. Coupled with rising demand for fewer pesti- cide inputs and the never-end- ing challenges associated with managing pesticide resistance, the integration of cluster loos- ening methods may address some of these challenges while reducing reliance on pesticides in cool climate regions. The mechanization of these methods can provide interested growers with a more sustainable and cost effective, non-chemical ap- proach to premium wine grape production, in spite of the re- gion's weather. Bryan Hed is a research technologist at the Lake Erie Grape Research and Ex- t e n s i o n C e n t e r i n N o r t h E a s t , P a . Dr. Michela Centinari is assistant profes- sor of viticulture at The Penn State Col- lege of Agricultural Sciences. They would like to thank the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Board and the New York Wine and Grape Foun- dation for funding much of the bunch rot research at the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center. Basic Hoe comes with a Hillup and a Takeaway Blade. Additional attachments include .3 Tooth Cultivator, Undercutter Blade, Rotary head, " NEW " Rolling Cultivator and "Vine Auger". The Green Hoe Company, Inc. 6645 West Main Road, Portland, NY 14769 PHONE (716) 792-9433 FAX (716) 792-9434 WWW.GREENHOECOMPANY.COM GREEN GRAPE HOE Hauser Packaging Quality European Bottles • DIAM Corks Custom Packaging • Finger Lakes Warehouse 888-600-2671 • hauserpack.com The references for this article are available online at winesandvines.com Trellis Supplies • Notched Metal Post, Wood • Anchors • Wire • Tools • Gripples • Dura-Line Training & Tying Supplies •Tree-fix • Wire ties • AgLoc • Klip-on • Grow Tubes • Training Stakes • Tying Products Wildlife Control • Bird netting • Side Applied Netting • BirdGard • Scare Devices • Deer Fence & Deterrents Spring Pruning and Tying Supplies FINGER LAKES TRELLIS SUPPLY BUY ONLINE! www.fingerlakestrellissupply.com 315-904-4007 4041A Railroad Ave. info@fingerlakestrellissupply.com Williamson, NY 14589 Pulse air technology is used to perform mechanized leaf removal at Galen Glen Vineyards in Andreas Pa. This technology is being examined for its effectiveness at reducing leaf area in the cluster zone before or after bloom and fruit set.