KC Dahal1*, SP Bhattarai1, DJ Midmore1, D Oag2 and KB Walsh1
1School of Medical and Applied Science, CQ University, Australia
2Department of Agriculture and Forestry, QLD, Australia
*Email: k.dahal@cqu.edu.au
Abstract
Common grape vine (vitis vinifera) is assumed to have originated in moderate temperate climates; however, it is also now well established in Subtropical and tropical climates around the world. The mechanisms of adaptation to warm climates are diverse and include both morphological and physiological attributes. Despite constraints to normal growth and consistent yield, expansion of table grape production in warm climate is increasing through optimal vine management and the use of growth regulators, with Israel, South Africa, Brazil, India and Australia leading in this area. Grape cultivation in Nepal is believed to have started within the Rana regime (>70 years ago) but there is effectively no current commercial production. Prospective areas for commercial grape production are in western terai, and although production constraints require further investigation, it is likely that diseases associated with the monsoon would be the major problems in terai and mid-hills. Shifting the harvesting time to before monsoon (June-July) is considered a plausible strategy for successful viticulture in comparatively warmer and drier subtropical climates of western Nepal. Implementation of this strategy will require research to achieve earlier and uniform budburst leading to synchronized flowering and harvesting in vineyard.
Keywords: budburst, defoliation, dormancy, hydrogen cyanamide and subtropical viticulture.