-Knowledge of bud fertility is an important aid in selection of new cultivars of table grapes with high yield potential. The aim of this study was to determine the sprouting percentage and fertility index of buds of 11 cultivars and table grape breeding selections over five production cycles. The study was carried out at the Bebedouro Experimental Field of Embrapa Semiárido in Petrolina-PE, Brazil, in the period 2013-2015 considering 14 table grape genotypes and 5 production cycles as sources of variation. A randomized block experimental design was used, evaluating sprouting percentage and the mean bud fertility index. A significant effect of the genotype on sprouting was observed only in the first and second production cycles; however, bud fertility exhibited significant interaction between the genotype and the production cycle, and the highest mean values of bud fertility were obtained in the fifth cycle in the 2nd semester of 2015. The cultivars 'A Dona', 'A1105', 'BRS Clara', and Marroo Seedless' stood out through high bud fertility (mean values from 0.78 to 0.95 bunches/shoot) in all the cycles evaluated, with higher values in the terminal buds of the cane (8th and 9th buds). These results show the yield potential of these new cultivars in the São Francisco Valley region.

Abstract. The aim of this study was to characterize the yield components of the grape BRS Isis grown in tropical conditions of the São Francisco Valley. The work was carried out during five growing seasons (2013)(2014)(2015) in Petrolina, PE. The phenological cycle was 127 days between pruning to harvest. It was obtained 65.8% of sprouting on the rootstock IAC 313 and 60.4% on 'SO4'. The bud fertility rates were high, around 1.00 bunches per shoot. The average production per plant was 20.63 kg on 'SO4' and 18.34 kg on 'IAC 313', corresponding to an yield at 29.45 ton/ha/season on 'SO4' and 26.19 ton/ha/season on 'IAC 313'. The bunches are medium in size and cylindrical shaped with mass of 400 g on 'SO4' and 370 g on 'IAC 313'. The bunch length and width were also slightly higher on 'SO4' (21.32 cm × 11.89 cm) compared to 'IAC 313' (20.42 cm × 11.50 cm). The berries are large, elliptical shaped, crunchy with a neutral flavor. The grape presented SS content around 16.0• Brix and low TA (0.44 and 0.49%), giving an apropriate SS/TA ratio and pleasant taste. The results showed that 'BRS Isis' can be considered as a new option of seedless grape for the tropical viticulture in the Northeastern of Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and physicochemical characteristics of ‘BRS Magna’ and ‘Isabel Precoce’ grapes influenced by two types of pruning. The experiment was carried out during two growing seasons in a commercial vineyard of Petrolina, PE, in the period 2013-2014. Treatments were represented by two cultivars, ‘Isabel Precoce’ and ‘BRS Magna’, and two types of pruning, with selection during plant formation (P1) and without selection (P2) of lateral branches, using a randomized experimental block design, in subdivided plots and four replicates. After pruning P2, the amount of buds kept on vines was greater than after pruning P1, favoring an increase in yield. However, the sizes of bunches and berries, content of soluble solids, and titratable acidity were not influenced by the pruning type. In general, the sizes of bunches and berries in ‘BRS Magna’ were larger than in the ‘Isabel Precoce’ cultivar. Conversely, content of soluble solids and titratable acidity varied among cultivars as a function of production cycle and type of pruning; however, within the standards described for both cultivars and accepted by the Brazilian legislation.