With the objective of evaluating a probable association between N metabolic disorders and the problem known as "soft berry" at the beginning of 2002 rachis and berries of bunches from a vineyard,
Vitis vinifera
L. cv. Thompson Seedless, of the VI Region, Chile (34°15' S. lat, 72°25' W. long) with the presence of "soft", "intermediate", and "firm" berries were collected The results indicated that soft or intermediate berries had higher levels of N in the pulp and skin, and higher arginine and putrescine levels in berries and rachis. Evaluations of the fruit indicated that soft berries showed less firmness, less than 190 g-strength mm
-1, less weight and less soluble solids (°Brix). The results indicated some similarity with factors that have been associated to the disorder known as "bunch stem necrosis" or "waterberry".