North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Tom Olenio <tolenio@sentex.net>]

Hello All,

I would like to know if anyone who grows grapes on arbors has similar
experience to this;

I was under my arbor, pulling down yellowing leaves from the underside of the
arbor canopy, that I assumed had died due to lack of sunlight.  Then I noticed
that many of the yellow leaves were near clusters of grapes.

This got me wondering if the bunch of grapes released a hormone/gas/chemical
that influenced the cessation of nearby leaves.  Not a strong reaction, but 
one
significant enough to affect leaves receiving little sunlight.

This would make sense from a plant/hormonal standpoint.  A plant wanting it's
seeds to reach maturity wanting more sunlight on the fruit, and discouraging
leaves nearby.  Just a wild stab of an idea on my part.

I do not think you would find this on a trellis system, as arbors have much
more dense, stationary foliage.

Your observations?

Later,
Tom