Final non-regulated risk analysis report for table grapes from the Republic of Korea

1.8Pre-harvest

1.8.1Cultivars

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L. and other Vitis spp.) have been grown in Korea for more than 1000 years. Grapes are grown for fresh consumption, wine production, canning, juice, fruit drinks, jams, vinegars and other products (Song 2010). Commercial production of table grapes has dramatically increased since the early 1900’s with the introduction of major wine cultivars into Korea (Song 2010). The table grape variety ‘Campbell Early’ is the principal cultivar grown and accounts for 73% of grapes produced in Korea. This is followed by ‘Kyoho’ and ‘Muscat Bailey A’, which account for 12% and 11% of production respectively. Assorted other cultivars make up the remaining 4% of production. Table 3.1 lists the cultivars produced in Korea and the proportions of land used for each.

The cultivars produced in Korean export orchards are European varieties or a hybridisation of American and European cultivars (Song 2010). Campbell Early is the principal cultivar exported (NPQS 2011).

Table 3.1 Amount of land used (ha) for each grape cultivar in proportion to others (%) in Korea across 2002, 2007 and 2009 (NPQS 2011)

Year	Variable	Campbell	Kyoho	Muscat Bailey A	Sheridan	Delaware	Others	Total
2002	Land used (ha)	18 884	4 089	599	3 338	97	1 283	28 290
	Amount of cultivar produced in comparison to others (%)	66.8	14.5	2.1	11.8	0.3	4.5	100.0
2007	Land used (ha)	13 491	2 557	1 364	524	115	792	18 843
	Amount of cultivar produced in comparison to others (%)	71.6	13.6	7.2	2.8	0.6	4.2	100.0
2009	Land used (ha)	12 618	2 710	1 315	473	120	760	17 996
	Amount of cultivar produced in comparison to others (%)	70.1	15.1	7.3	2.6	0.7	4.2	100.0

Campbell Early (Figure 3.3) is an early-season cultivar, maturing in late August to early September. Fruit clusters weigh approximately 350 g. Berries are dark purple, round, tightly filled and thick-skinned. They are low in acidity and very juicy. Campbell Early has a sugar content of over 14 Brix and matures 75–80 days after full bloom (NPQS 2011).

Figure 3.3 Campbell Early cultivar (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.4 Kyoho cultivar (NPQS 2011)

Kyoho (Figure 3.4) is a mid-season cultivar, maturing in mid-September. Fruit clusters weigh approximately 350 g. Berries are dark purple, egg-shaped and large with soft flesh. They are low in acidity and very juicy. Kyoho has a sugar content of 17 Brix and matures 90–95 days after full bloom (NPQS 2011).

Muscat Bailey A is a late-ripening cultivar, maturing early October. Fruit clusters weigh approximately 400 g. Berries are dark purple, round and medium-sized with tender flesh. Muscat Bailey A has a sugar content of 19 Brix and matures 110–120 days after full bloom (NPQS 2011).

Delaware (Figure 3.5) is a mid-season cultivar, maturing late August to early September. Fruit clusters weigh approximately 120 g. Berries are small and juicy with tender pulp. Delaware has a sugar content of 17 Brix and matures 60–65 days after full bloom (NPQS 2011).

Figure 3.5 Delaware cultivar (NPQS 2011)

1.8.2Cultivation practices

Planting

Thorough preparation of the land is essential for the successful establishment of the vines. Grapevines are generally planted during spring to avoid winter injury (Song 2010). Due to the cold conditions of winter, farmers are recommended to plant American cultivars where temperatures are not less than -25 °C and European cultivars where temperatures are not less than -15 °C (Song 2010). Grapevines are ideally planted in sandy loam soils and cover crops are sometimes used to limit soil erosion.

 Figure 3.6 Diagram of rootstock hybridisation for cultivars used in Korea (NPQS 2011)

Rootstocks for grape cultivation in Korea are generally phylloxera resistant. Resistant strains include Vitis riparia, V. rupestris, V. berlandieri and rootstocks developed through hybridization, which include SO4, 8B, 5BB, 5C, 3306, 3309, 101-14 and 188-08 (Figure 3.6). Specific cultivars are selected depending upon scion variety and soil conditions (NPQS 2011).

Trellis systems

Table grapes are grown in a number of different ways using different trellis systems. Campbell Early is trained in a mutated parallel system (Figure 3.7), as the distances between rows and spacing within rows are important to ensure the right growing length of new shoots. A spacing of 2.7 m between rows is generally appropriate (NPQS 2011). Vines are planted 2.7–3.6 m apart within a row depending upon soil fertility. Spacing in rows should be expanded through thinning as plants mature, with an appropriate final spacing of 5.4–7.2 m depending upon soil fertility (NPQS 2011).

 Figure 3.7 Campbell Early planting system demonstrating final spacing between mature plants (5.4 m) (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.8 Kyoho planting system demonstrating final spacing between mature plants (11.5 m) (NPQS 2011)
Kyoho are planted in rows with an average planting distance of 3.6 m x 1.8 m (Figure 3.8). Spacing in rows are expanded using a central leader as plants mature, with an appropriate final spacing of 10.8–12.6 m depending upon soil fertility (NPQS 2011).

Vineyards in Korea use a number of different trellis systems to raise the plants. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. The trellis systems used include the ‘Wakeman’s training system’ (Figure 3.9), the ‘T-type Wakeman’s training system’ (Figure 3.10), the ‘mutated parallel training system’ (Figure 3.11) and the ‘Pyeongdeok training system’, which has three variations. These variations include the Pyeongdeok type (Figure 3.12), the mutated Pyeongdeok type (Figure 3.13) and the neutral parallel type (Figure 3.14). The height of the first wire that guides the main branch is always above 90 cm to prevent risk of disease infection by rain water splashing from the ground (NPQS 2011).

Pruning

The pruning method ‘pinching’ is used to improve berry setting. Pinching restricts the nutrient growth of new shoots and moves it to the flowers. The growing point of the new shoot with unfoliated leaves is cut 5 days prior to flowering. The second cluster of 9–10 leaves on the shoot is secured to prevent physiological disorder. It is a good practice not to pinch side shoots. Pinching is conducted 2–3 times (including before flowering) and is a labour-heavy process. Pruning is labour intensive and can be minimised by allowing adequate spacing within rows to encourage vine vigour (NPQS 2011).

Figure 3.9 Wakeman’s training system diagram (left) and use in field (right) (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.10 T-type Wakeman’s training system diagram (left) and use in field (right) (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.11 Mutated parallel training system diagram (left) and use in field (right), demonstrating a height of 140 cm from ground to first wire (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.12 Pyeongdeok type training system (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.13 Mutated Pyeongdeok type training system, demonstrating a height of 150 cm from ground to first wire (NPQS 2011)

Figure 3.14 Neutral parallel type training system (NPQS 2011)

Bagging

P
rior to bagging, pest control is carried out and bunches are cluster-pruned to protect the fruit skin and help manage pests. Grape bunches are bagged prior to July (Figure 3.15). Farms with rainproof cultivation, such as sheltered greenhouses, may bag fruit at a later time (NPQS 2010b). Bag openings are tightly closed to exclude rain and pests. Larger bags are preferred to prevent waxy bloom from being removed. All grapes for export are bagged and bags are not removed until harvest (NPQS 2011). If bags are ruined, the fruit is not brought into the packing house (NPQS 2010b).

Figure 3.15 Grape bagging process (left), large bags used (middle) and a bagged orchard (right) (NPQS 2011)

Irrigation

The method of irrigation is selected depending upon soil type, topography, the supply and quality of water available and the scale and technology of farms. There are two main methods of irrigation; sprinkler systems and drip watering (NPQS 2011).

Sprinkler systems can be fixed or travelling, spraying pressurized water as raindrops or mist. There are under-vine and overhead sprinkler systems. Overhead sprinklers have a much wider dispersal range than under-vine sprinklers, however this method of delivery increases humidity in the air and leaves water drops on plants which can encourage pests (NPQS 2011).

Drip watering is a recent development in irrigation used in grape production areas. Thin pipes of approximately 2 mm diameter are connected to larger pipes that run under the vines. Water is supplied to the pipes at a constant rate, ensuring that the soil remains moist for optimum growing conditions (NPQS 2011).

1.8.3Pest management

The following information on pest management was provided by Korea (NPQS 2010b; NPQS 2011). All vineyards producing grapes for export to Australia will be registered with NPQS and receive their own registration number (Figure 3.16). Only vineyards that pass monthly inspection and are confirmed pest free will be registered for export. Each registered vineyard complies with requirements covering pest monitoring, pest prevention and pest control, including bagging and use of chemical sprays.

Figure 3.16 Registration sign displaying unique registration code, farm size and grower details (Photograph taken by DAFF officers during 2011 verification visit)

Korea has strict guidelines for the use of agricultural pesticides for pest control. Vineyards are responsible for spraying chemicals at appropriate times and in accordance with guidelines, under the supervision of the Korean Agricultural Technology Centre. Table 3.2 details the chemicals used, the timing of application and the pests targeted. As previously stated, pest control is conducted prior to bagging.

Table 3.2 Guidelines for pest control in Korean grape orchards. Table details which chemicals are used on particular pests, their magnification and timing of application (NPQS 2011).

Timing	Chemical used and magnification	Targeted pests
Early April	Lime-sulphur mixture & Benomyl (500X)	Blackhead, brown spot, scale
Early May	Z Dithane (600X) & Diazinon (1000X)	Downy mildew, powdery mildew, insects
Early June	Orthocide (1000X), Iprodione (1500X) & Achepate (1000X)	Downy mildew, gray mould, thrips, clear-wing moth
Early July	Sanipa (1000X) & Othathan	Powdery mildew, downy mildew, gray mould, mites,
Early August	4 8 type Bordeaux mixture & Adion (1000X)	Downy mildew, thrips, mites
Late August	4 8 type Bordeaux mixture, Adion (1000X) & Nithoran (2000X)	Downy mildew, thrips, mites
Early September	4 8 type Bordeaux mixture & Fenitrothion (1000X)	Downy mildew, mites

S
oil covering, including plastic or felt, is used as a pest control method in vineyards in Korea (Figure 3.17). This helps prevent insects with life stages based in the soil from moving up into the vines and weeds from growing.

Figure 3.17 Soil covering in Korean grapevine orchards (NPQS 2011)
NPQS conducts training for farmers and packing house officials at the beginning of each year to comply with the requirements of export partners (Figure 3.18). These training sessions are used to educate these staff members on the export requirements, key quarantine pests and sorting processes (NPQS 2010b; NPQS 2011).

Figure 3.18 Training sessions carried out by NPQS for farmers and packing house officials (NPQS 2011)