SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY

Abstract

Turkey is one of the most favorable viticulture area, vine culture was began first in there, and rich by wild (Vitis vinifera ssp. Sylvestris) and culture grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. Sativa) genetic resources that collected more than 1100 in National Collection Vineyard (NCV) in Tekirdag Viticulture Research Institute (VRI). Nowadays there is about 3.5 million tons grapes producing in 530.000 hectares mainly utilize for raisin (37%), table grape (30%), fruit juice (30%), and wine (3%) with around 80 standard cultivars grafted on almost 6 standard rootstocks in 9 viticulture regions in that Aegean and Mediterranean are more fruitful as economic aspect. Turkey is the most important raisin grape producer by cv Sultani (synonym Sultana) around 75% has been exporting different countries, and fifth big table grape producer that also has been exporting different countries. There is well development of organically certificated grape production in last decade as raisin and table grape production. In this paper, Turkeys grape germplasm evaluation, variety and rootstock utilization, planting material propagation, planting, constructing the trellis, some production practices such as ground work, pruning and trellising, grape leaf production, pest management, irrigation, floor management and harvesting topics briefly described and analyzed.