THE EFFECT OF NEGATIVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES ON BUDS VIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL ON THE VINES VARIETIES CULTIVATED IN COTNARI

viability, productivity potential. Abstract: The harmful minimum temperatures during the winter of 2005/200, severely affected the buds from grapevines varieties cultivated in Cotnari vineyard; the main bud losses were between 76.7 % in the case of Fetească albă variety but the secondary buds had a better viability, between 20.7 % and 32.8%. Bud losses are compensated by a good viability and fertility of the secondary buds, so that the grape yield was estimated up to 6,457.4 of Grasă de Cotnari variety, 9,417.8 of Fetească albă variety. The estimation using the viability and fertility of main and secondary buds give early and correct information concerning the grape yield even after hard winters, and based on this data the vine-growers can establish the technological costs, the market policies etcetera. “Cotnari ” vineyard is situated in the north-east region of Moldavia, with an excessive temperate continental climate, with absolute minimum temperatures that go down to-25-30o C and often endanger the unprotected vineyard culture (2, 3). The winter of 2005/2006 was characterized by absolute minimal temperatures, down to-26o C (February 19th 2006) (table 1), which had negative effects on the grape vines. The evolution of the minimal negative temperatures, harmful for the grape vines, during the 2005/2006 winter in “Cotnari ” vineyar