Authors: Tony K. Wolf and John D. Boyer, Professor of Viticulture and Lecturer, Virginia Tech
Publication Number 463-020, December 2003
Figure 3. Riesling vineyard that experienced from -17 to -20°F in February 1996. The lack of growth on these vines in June of 1996 was due to cold injury to the exposed trunks and canes. The only grapevine growth present originates from regions of the trunks close to the ground that had been protected by a layer of snow. The smaller photo (A) is a dormant bud cut cross-sectionally to reveal a coldinjured primary bud, straddled by live secondary buds. Photo (B) is a healthy cane (left) compared to a cold-injured cane (right). The discolored tissue immediately beneath the bark on the injured cane illustrates the injury to the phloem and vascular cambium that can result from low temperature exposure.
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