International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 290-298 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 296 sugar accumulation. In humid conditions, however, early leaf removal would be more useful in managing disease and controlling yields. These findings emphasize the need for region- and variety-specific leaf removal protocols to maximize grape quality and production performance (Pastore et al., 2017; Arrillaga et al., 2021; Lu et al., 2022). 7 Applications of Leaf Removal in Table Grape Cultivation 7.1 Case studies of improved fruit appearance and quality Recent research demonstrates that leaf removal, especially when it is combined with other summer pruning, significantly enhances table grape quality and appearance. For example, research on the Alphonse Lavallée variety shows that leaf removal enhances cluster and berry weight, length, and width, along with lightness and chroma parameters. These changes result in more attractive fruit with thicker skins and increased handling resistance, a requirement for marketability. Leaf removal also improves the overall phenolic content and antioxidant activity, adding another dimension to fruit quality and consumer attraction (Doğan, 2025). For the Michele Palieri variety, leaf removal and its combination with topping at various phenological stages are recommended for the realization of quality table grapes because the operations maximize the exposure of leaves and improve yield and berry attributes (Korkutal et al., 2022). 7.2 Strategies for enhancing sugar accumulation and flavor Leaf removal is a major method of enhancing sugar accumulation and flavor in table grapes. Early leaf removal, particularly before or at bloom, increases total soluble solids (Brix), pH, and the maturity index but decreases titratable acidity. This makes the fruit sweeter and more flavorful. The practice also improves the accumulation of phenolic compounds and aroma volatiles that are responsible for flavor complexity. Combining leaf removal with reflective mulch or bunch tipping also allows more sunlight to penetrate the canopy, which results in improved skin color and higher sugar content. The most ideal method of improving sugar and flavor is often with combined approaches, e.g., combining early leaf removal with reflective mulch or bunch tipping (Kok, 2022). 7.3 Synergy with other vineyard management practices Removal of leaves plays a synergistic role with other vineyard practices to optimize table grape quality. When combined with fruit thinning or cluster thinning, leaf removal provides further emphasis to berry size, sugar content, and phenolic composition enhancement, as well as reduced disease incidence such as bunch rot. Synthesis of leaf removal with pest management resources such as targeted insecticide applications will also repress pest populations and disease pressure, supporting sustainable production. Leaf stripping period and intensity, if coordinated with other management practices like topping or reflective mulches, allow growers to tune canopy microclimate, maximize fruit quality, and minimize yield loss (Prazaru et al., 2023). 8 Concluding Remarks Leaf removal is an essential viticultural process that has a significant effect on table grape quality and sugar deposition. Research indicates that well-timed and precisely placed defoliation can enhance cluster light exposure, enhance the microclimate of the fruit, and regulate source-sink relations to produce enhanced berry color, higher sugars, and enhanced flavors. Mechanistically, leaf removal affects photosynthetic efficiency, sugar metabolism, and gene expression associated with sugar transport and accumulation. The responses are environment-specific, cultivar-specific, and dependent on the timing and intensity of defoliation, which points to its specificity and delicacy of effects. Leaf removal in table grape cultivation provides real benefits to the growing process, as well as to quality improvement. It results in more uniform ripening, reduced disease development, and improved postharvest performance. Through its alteration of berry physiological and biochemical activity, leaf removal is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly means of improving fruit quality, making it easier for growers to meet market specifications for sweetness, appearance, and high-quality table grapes.
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