International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 290-298 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 290 Research Insight Open Access Effects of Leaf Removal on Grape Quality and Sugar Accumulation MinghuaLi 1 , Xingzhu Feng2 1 Biotechnology Research Center of Zhuji Cuixi Academy of Biotechology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding author: minghua.li@cuixi.org International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0029 Received: 20 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 20 Oct., 2025 Published: 30 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li and Feng, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li M.H., and Feng X.Z., 2025, Effects of leaf removal on grape quality and sugar accumulation, International Journal of Horticulture, 15(6): 290-298 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0029) Abstract Leaf removal is of special importance as a general cultural practice in viticulture to improve light conditions, control the fruit microenvironment, and promote sugar accumulation. This study describes the basic ways and forms of grapevine leaf removal and summarizes the effects of different timings, locations, and intensities of defoliation on the external appearance of the fruit, its physicochemical properties, flavor compounds, and storability. In addition, it probes the molecular and physiological foundations through which the removal of leaves induces sugar build-up, such as photosynthesis, source-sink balance, activity and expression of enzymes and genes related to sugar metabolism, and transport of sugar. The study also discusses the impact of varietal variation, environmental conditions, and interactions with other cultural practices on the efficiency of leaf removal, as well as comparing domestic and foreign research progress and practical experiences. In general, leaf removal has vast potential for improving grape quality and sugar accumulation, but the optimal application procedures remain to be explored on the basis of varietal characteristics and local conditions. Theoretical citations and practical experiences presented in this study are beneficial for precision vineyard management and industrial application. Keywords Grape; Leaf removal; Quality; Sugar accumulation; Cultivation management 1 Introduction Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. and allied varieties) are amongst the most important fresh fruit crops of the world with excellent economic and nutritional importance. Global consumer needs are increasingly emphasizing parameters such as berry size, even color, sweetness, texture, and storage life. Among these, sugar deposition and general fruit quality are key parameters determining market competitiveness and consumer acceptability. Management of these problems demands an extremely accurate vineyard practice which optimizes environmental conditions and plant physiological responses. The removal of leaves is a widespread viticultural practice used to modify canopy structure, increase penetration of light, and regulate the microclimate of the fruit. Through the alteration of the source-sink relationship, the practice may influence photosynthetic efficiency, berry growth, and metabolite accumulation (VanderWeide et al., 2021). Leaf removal has been used traditionally in vineyards for increased cluster exposure, defense against diseases, and better fruit ripening. Its application in table grape production has been emphasized over the last few years because it has the ability to contribute to berry appearance, sweetness, and storage quality. Leaf removal effects vary vastly depending on timing, severity, and location of defoliation and cultivar response (Bakhsh et al., 2021). Despite extensive research on canopy management, there is still limited knowledge of the systematic physiological and molecular foundation of the effect of defoliation on fruit quality, particularly for table grape varieties destined for fresh-market. The majority of current studies are focused on wine grapes when there is an existing lacuna of knowledge regarding table grapes, where organoleptic quality and sugar composition are prioritized over secondary metabolites like phenolics. Moreover, the interactions of defoliation with environmental factors, cultivar characteristics, and other horticultural procedures remain yet to be fully elucidated. These gaps underscore the need for a more integrated approach combining physiological, biochemical, and
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