Course overview
Viticultural Science A covers the entire life cycle of the cultivated grapevine with an emphasis from bud burst through to the onset of veraison. The practical component of the course takes advantage of the vine growth phases that occur from bud burst, flowering and fruit-set leading up to harvest. Topics covered include: The growth cycle of the grapevine and the biology that underpins the different phenological stages. Grapevine physiology as it is relevant to growth and vine form, flowering, water use, mineral nutrition, and berry development. Grapevine anatomy of the vegetative and reproductive parts. Taxonomy of grapevines and vegetative variety identification. Practical sessions will focus in more depth on the following topics: pruning techniques, vine and bud anatomy, shoot based variety identification, shoot morphology and development, yield estimation, and mineral nutrition.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe the growth cycle of the grapevine and the biology that underpins the different phenological stages.
- Understand the taxonomy of grapevines.
- Understand grapevine physiology as it is relevant to: mineral nutrition, water use, photosynthesis and ripening.
- Describe grapevine anatomy of the vegetative and reproductive parts.
- Use techniques to monitor grapevine phenological development and yield potential.
- Understand the role of biotechnology in viticulture.
- Plan, conduct and execute a basic project on grapevine physiology or anatomy with reference to background literature.
- Work effectively as part of a team and to communicate their understanding and experimental results both verbally and in written form.