Efeito do manejo da desfolha no desempenho agronômico da videira Chardonnay em região de elevada altitude de Santa Catarina

The objective of the work was to compare different timing of leaf removal management and their effect on the chemical and physical characteristics of the Chardonnay grapevine in a high-altitude region of Santa Catarina State. This study was carried out in the 2018 and 2019 vintages, in a commercial vineyard, located in the municipality of Sao Joaquim - Santa Catarina State. Vineyard of the Chardonnay grapevine grafted on ‘Paulsen 1103’ was used. The treatments consisted of leaf removal, exposing the clusters region in five different phenological stages: full bloom, buckshot berries, pea-sized berries, veraison and plants without leaf removal (control). Productive indexes, bunch architecture and technological maturation were evaluated. The variables were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when treatment effects were detected, the test of comparison of means was carried out using the Scott Knott Test at 5% probability of error. The leaf removal management of the 'Chardonnay' grapevine did not influence variables related to the cluster architecture (cluster mass, cluster length and number of berries), however, when carried out after the phenological stage buckshot berries provides an increase in the compaction index. The results obtained in the present work demonstrate that the defoliation management increases the productive indexes (production per plant and productivity) and improves the technological maturation of the grapevine (soluble solids), being recommended its realization until the phenological stage veraison.