Deadline: 2021-2024

Manager: Prof. Neli N. Prodanova-Marinova, PhD

Collective: 

Prof. Dr. Ivan Dyankov Pachev, Assoc. Emil Sashev Tsvetanov, Chief Assistant Dr. Vladimir Zahariev Dimitrov, Chief Assistant Dr. Daniela Tsvetanova Dimitrova, Chief Assistant Dr. Yordanka Gospodinova Belberova, Assist. Anatoli Metodiev Iliev, ac. Nikolay Ivanov Iliev, Senior Agronomist Emilia Ivanova Boromska, Senior Expert Eng. Bogdan Svetoslavov Naydenov, Chief Agricultural Technician Galya Petrova Georgieva, Chief Agricultural Technician Vasko Ivanov Ankov, Chief Agricultural Technician Milena Ilieva Motova, Chief Agricultural Technician Silvia Vladova Mateeva, Chief Agricultural Technician Tatyana Marinova Todorova, Senior Expert Chemist Eng. Diana Yordanova Chorbadzhieva, senior expert chemist Verka Georgieva Yonkova, chief chemist Olya Ivanova Abrasheva.

Summary:

The need for the Bulgarian production of vine propagating material to be efficient and competitive on the single European market, including the increased import of grafted rooted vines, requires the implementation of new solutions to optimize individual units and elements of the technology for the production of quality planting material. The work of the research team at the IVV in Pleven focuses on several areas: nutrition, irrigation, disease control and weed control. The economic analysis of the obtained results determines the most appropriate options for optimizing the combination of technological units in the process of production of vine propagating material.

Current studies in the field of foliar fertilization and fertigation answer the question of how, under given soil and climatic conditions and technologies for the production of vine planting material, different varieties with their specific requirements react to the diversity of biologically active substances and the stimulating products created on their basis. In the IVV, Pleven, positive results were obtained from the testing of a number of similar preparations: Aminobest, Alga – 300, Atonik, Bural, Ka-bor, Osiril, Ruthmost, etc. among the varieties Bolgar, Merlot, Misket Vrachanski, Misket Kailashki, Misket Plevenski, Rubin, Storgozia, etc.

The combination of the nutrient and irrigated regimes of the vineyard rootstock, as parts of the technology for the production of vine propagating material, has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of yields from standard vines. The work of the team is aimed at establishing the interaction of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation factors in a vineyard rootstock. The combination of the irrigation rate and the fertiliser rate in fertigation carried out by drip irrigation makes it possible to avoid labour costs and nitrogen losses due to its effective application directly to the root zone. The optimal combination of the size of the nitrogen and irrigation norms is a prerequisite for increasing the yield and reducing the cost of the resulting grafted rooted cuttings. 

The need to maintain high soil and atmospheric humidity in the vine rootstock creates favorable conditions for the development of weed vegetation.  Its high competitive ability in nutrient absorption attaches particular importance to keeping the soil surface clean from harmful vegetation. The use of herbicides can lead to a significant reduction in labour-intensive manual operations and thus in the cost of the rooted vines obtained. This method of weed control is applicable both in rooting the grafted cuttings without mulching the beds with polyethylene, and in solarization (to destroy weeds that have sprung up in places where the ends of the foil are buried and in inter-row spaces). One of the problems in conducting chemical weed control in the rootstock is the choice of appropriate plant protection products. In ILV Pleven more than 10 herbicides with soil and foliar action and combinations between some of them have been studied. With high agricultural and economic effect are distinguished Stomp New, Dual Gold 960 EC, Gardoprim plus Gold, Wing P and others.

The development and longevity of the vines in the fruiting vineyard largely depend on the condition of the planting material used to create it. The viability of the buds of the grafted rooted vines determines their laying and growth in the next vegetation, when they are planted in a permanent place. The loss of buds of propagating material, especially in the second eye, can lead to problems in the creation of new vineyards and economic losses. Primary pimple necrosis (PBN) in winter eyes during vegetation without being subjected to extreme low temperatures is a problem that has been somewhat clarified in fruit-bearing vines, but is absolutely unexplored in vine planting material. Data obtained by the team developing this issue in the IVV on the varieties Bolgar, Misket Plevenski, Naslada and Storgozia unequivocally indicate manifestations of primary necrosis of the buds as early as the rooting of the grafted cuttings.

The development of technology requires complex solutions that optimize all processes in the vineyard rootstock. Irrespective of the rooting methods applied, the scientifically sound results of studies on the biology, nutrition, water regime and competitiveness of grafted cuttings and vines obtained from them, supported by economic analysis, would support the production of vine propagating material.