International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 133-142 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 136 (Silvestroni et al., 2018). These practices are particularly important in high-vigor vineyards, where excessive shoot growth can lead to shading and reduced fruit quality. By optimizing shoot density and arrangement, growers can enhance the overall performance of the grapevine, leading to better yield and grape quality (Mataffo et al., 2023). 3.5 fruit thinning Zhejiang, China, is the main producing area of table grape in the south. In order to improve the commercial quality, grape thinning method is generally adopted to control the number of ears and fruit density, optimize nutrient distribution, improve the appearance and flavor of fruits, enhance ventilation and light transmittance, inhibit the propagation of pathogenic bacteria, maintain the health of trees, and lay the foundation for continuous high yield (Figure 3). Figure 3 fruit thinning technology of grape production base Image caption: A: manual fruit thinning; B: Ripe grapes after thinning 4 Impacts of Canopy Management on Grapevine Yield 4.1 Quantitative effects on cluster and berry development Canopy management significantly influences the quantitative aspects of cluster and berry development in grapevines. Techniques such as shoot thinning, leaf removal, and cluster thinning have been shown to modify canopy architecture, which in turn affects light interception and microclimate within the canopy. For instance, shoot thinning and leaf removal can decrease the leaf area index, thereby increasing canopy porosity and enhancing light penetration, which positively influences berry ripening and cluster development (Wang et al., 2015). Additionally, the removal of lateral shoots and main leaves before flowering can lead to a reduction in yield potential, as observed in the Swiss white cultivar Petite Arvine, where intensive leaf removal resulted in a 47% decrease in yield potential (Silvestroni et al., 2016). Furthermore, the manipulation of canopy microclimate through practices like shoot number control and vigor management can optimize the balance between shading and light exposure, which is crucial for the development of clusters and berries (Smart et al., 2017). These practices not only affect the size and number of berries but also influence the rachis length, which is a key determinant of bunch compactness and overall yield (Petoumenou and Patris, 2021). 4.2 Long-term impacts on vine health and productivity The long-term impacts of canopy management on vine health and productivity are profound, as these practices can influence the physiological and structural aspects of the vine. Canopy management strategies such as shoot thinning combined with preanthesis defoliation have been shown to reduce leaf area and yield, but they also increase sugar concentrations in the grapes, which can have a carryover effect on vine capacity in subsequent years (Wang et al., 2019). This suggests that while certain canopy management practices may initially reduce
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