Survey of the protected cultivation industry of table grapes for earlier production in Sicily

During last ten years great interest has been dedicated in Sicily to the cultivation of table grapes to obtain earlier production. Considering the importance of this production in this region we performed a survey aimed to describe actual features of the crop. This survey was carried out in a very representative production area in the southern part of the island, taking into consideration, traits related to plantation characteristics, cultivars, training system, semi-forcing technique, shelter typologies, covering materials, cultivation practices. Some of the most relevant traits are: - uniformity in the adopted covering materials - variability in shelter typologies - prevalence of cultivar 'Victoria'. The work points out the characteristics of the crop and some prospects for the future.