Impact of Leaf Removal on Yield Components and Monoterpene Composition during Maturation of Vitis vinifera L. CV ‘Italia’ Cultivated in Tunisia

ABSTRACT

The effect of leaf removal on the yield components, the fruit composition and the free and bound monoterpenol concentrations during maturation of Vitis vinifera L. ‘Italia’ berries were studied over two years (2002 and 2003). Results suggest that leaf removal treatments had no impact on berry and cluster weights, whereas it induced a significant modification in chemical composition of the fruit expressed by Brix degree, titratable acidity, and monoterpenol concentrations.