IMPACT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CHELATED ZINC ON THE SEASONAL CHANGES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPE BERRIES (VITIS VINIFERA L.)
A Field experiment was conducted A Field experiment was conducted in 2019 in the growing season, to study the effect of foliar application of zinc-chelated "Zn-EDTA" at concentrations 0,50,100 and 200 mg.l-1 on the seasonal dynamic of the growth and development of some physical and chemical characteristic in berries of Halwani Lebanon grape cultivar, grown on a calcareous soil in Mosul region- Iraq. The results revealed that the foliar application of 100 mgZn.l-1 caused a significant increase of berry weight, TSS, Glucose and Fructose in berries. While spraying with 200 mgZn.l-1 caused a significant decrease in the TA and Malic acid in juice berries compared to the control. Additionally, berry weight, TSS, Glucose and Fructose were increased from the beginning of berry growth to véraison and ripening stages. Total acidity was increased from berry set to 14 June and decrease towards the end of the maturity of berries on September 6th during growth season. While Tartaric and Malic acids were increased from berry set to véraison. Whereas, decrease towards the maturity of berries. On the other hand, the interaction between zinc levels and times on growth and development of berries were also discussed.
Keywords: Zinc, Spraying, Seasonal Changes, Grape Berry