An experiment was conducted to examine the interaction between chillin
g exposure (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 hours at 3C) and hydrogen cy
anamide (H2CN2) concentration [0%, 1.25%, and 2.50% (v/v)] on the budb
reak of dormant grape buds (Vitis vinifera L. 'Perlette') collected in
late fall before the onset of temperatures less than or equal to 13C.
Budbreak at 22C was most rapid for cuttings exposed to 800 chill hour
s and least rapid for cuttings that received no chilling, Budbreak pf
cuttings receiving 50 to 200 hours of chilling was similar and lagged
behind that of cuttings exposed to 400 or 800 hours. Maximum observed
budbreak improved with increased chilling exposure. Hydrogen cyanamide
hastened the growth of all chilling treatments and increased the perc
ent budbreak of cuttings receiving less than or equal to 400 chill hou
rs, When cuttings were not treated with H2CN2, the number of days requ
ired for 50% budbreak declined sharply as chilling exposure increased
from 0 to 400 hours,In contrast, this interval was reduced only slight
ly as chilling increased from 400 to 800 hours, Hydrogen cyanamide-tre
ated buds exhibited a more gradual decline in the number of days requi
red for 50% budbreak with increased chilling exposure, In this study,
the physiological efficacy and economic benefits of H2CN2 applications
diminished with increased chilling exposure.