THE EFFECT OF WINTER 2005/2006 NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES ON BUDS VIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL IN THE VINE VARIETIES CULTIVATED IN THE COTNARI VINEYARD

ABSTRACT- The minimum absolute temperatures from the Cotnari vineyard fell below the endurance limit of the varieties during the winter 2005/2006, until-26oC (on 19 February, 2006) and they affected the main buds at a proportion of 76.7 % in the case of Fetească albă variety, and 74.1 % in the case of Francuşă variety.The loss of the main buds was compensated by the fructification cutting, the viability and fertility of the secondary buds, so that the calculated production potential could reach 9693 kg/hectare in the case of Grasă de Cotnari variety, 14348 kg/hectare in the case of Fetească albă variety, 17684 kg/hectare in the case of Tamâioasa romanească variety and 12363 kg/hectare in the case of Fracuşă variety. Key words: negative temperatures, bud viability, production potential