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Abstract
Leaf removal is a vineyard canopy management technique used to manage disease and improve fruit quality. Leaf removal strategies employ, in combination, alterations in timing and extent of removal. Leaf removal methods can be optimized by climatic conditions to have the greatest positive impact on disease control, crop yield maintenance, and secondary metabolite accumulation. The research presented herein evaluated fruit zone leaf removal methods to improve fruit quality and maintain adequate crop yield in bunch grapes grown in North Georgia. Fruit zone leaf removal consistently improved disease control and improved or maintained primary and secondary metabolites, metrics that determine fruit quality. Pre-bloom leaf removal, especially to greater extents, decreased crop yield and fruit quality. Leaf removal on one canopy side of a divided canopy trellis had no effect on the crop yield or fruit quality of the separate canopy side.