Grape Berry Cracking

Grape berry cracking manifests as a disruption of skin integrity, classified by the nature of the damage, such as longitudinal splits, cracks near the pedicel base, or at the apex of the berry. Grape varieties differ in their susceptibility to this phenomenon: resistant forms are those that maintain skin integrity under extreme changes in water regime, while susceptible varieties are regularly damaged under conditions of excess moisture.

This trait is variety-specific and lacks a standardized scoring scale; therefore, it is assessed visually by determining the percentage of affected berries in a cluster or through comparative analysis in field conditions. Skin ruptures create a favorable environment for the development of secondary pathogens, including grey mold, and attract pests, which compels agronomists to use specialized control methods such as plastic covers, drip irrigation, and the adjustment of mineral nutrition with an emphasis on potassium and phosphorus to increase skin elasticity.