Terroir 2004 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Partial rootzone drying (PRD): strategic irrigation management as viticultural tool affecting plant physiology and berry quality

Partial rootzone drying (PRD): strategic irrigation management as viticultural tool affecting plant physiology and berry quality

Abstract

Partial rootzone drying (PRD) is an irrigation management technique designed to reduce water use in grapevines without a decline in yield, thereby increasing water use efficiency (WUE). The principle of PRD is to keep part of the root system at a constant drying rate to produce soil derived signals to above-ground plant organs to induce a physiological response resulting in viticultural effects. Major PRD effects include a reduced canopy size and greatly increased WUE with possible improvements in fruit quality. Experiments conducted under Australian conditions consisted of field-grown grapevines irrigated at variable rates to elucidate a true PRD effect. The effects of PRD on the assimilation and partitioning of C and N in grapevines are reported and the sustainability and economic potential of the PRD system are discussed. Major findings include the effects of PRD on grapevine physiology on the biochemical level where the source:sink relationship between plant organs influences dry matter accumulation and nitrogen assimilation that will influence fertilization needs. Finally, the effects of PRD on berry growth and quality are discussed, especially the accumulation of hexose, amino acids and inorganic ions such as K+, that may have an influence on wine quality.

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

Gerhard du Toit

Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Victoria Street, ZA 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Landscapes of the wine: the four seasons of herault

Les paysages participent à l’identité des vins de l’Hérault, avec une grande richesse de diversité. Leur observation, au travers des quatre saisons, s’appuie sur deux dimensions primordiales : la genèse de leur construction par l’homme et l’esthétique. L’hiver est la saison la plus favorable au décryptage de ce vignoble étagé, du littoral méditerranéen aux premières pentes du Massif Central; il permet de lire l’histoire des stratégies viticoles des vignerons. Les autres saisons sensibilisent plus à la beauté de vignobles dans des écrins de végétation typiquement méditerranéenne. La multiplicité des pratiques culturales et des cépages contribue à cet attrait. L’incitation au parcours, en toute saison, est très forte grâce au réseau des routes et des chemins de vigne.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug taint in grape must and wine: time evolution of trans-2-decenal

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB, Halyomorpha halys Stal) is an invasive pentatomid native to eastern Asia that is spreading rapidly worldwide, notably through human-mediated activities. Globally, it was reported in the USA, Canada, Italy, Hungary, and other European countries. BMSB has a broad host range that includes over 170 plants, many of agricultural importance, including various fruit, vegetables, row crops, and ornamentals. When present in the vineyard, the pest can affect yield and quality by directly feeding on berries resulting in fruit collapse and necrosis. Additional damage occurs when BMSB are carried into the winery within the grape clusters. The presence of BMSB during wine processing can affect juice and wine quality through the release of volatile compounds produced as a stress response. The major secretes compounds are tridecane and trans-2-decenal. Tridecane is an odorless compound and its effect on wine quality is currently unknown. Trans-2-decenal is an unsaturated aldehyde considered to be the main component of BMSB taint with strong green, coriander, and musty-like aromas. Its threshold value in wine was estimated at about 5 µg/L.

Development of bioprospecting tools for oenological applications

Wine is the result of a complex biochemical process. From a microbiological point of view, the grape berry is characterised by a heterogeneous microbiota composed of different microorganisms (yeasts, bacteria and filamentous fungi) which will play a predominant role in the quality of the final product. At this level, yeasts play a predominant role in the chemistry of wine, as they

Relation between the environmental factors of the terroir system and flavan-3-ol composition of grape berry seeds and skin at pre-veraison stage and harvest Influence of dedicate viticultural management

Quantity and quality of flavonoïds in grape berries are important parts of their global quality. Several studies had shown that tannins are responsible for some major flavour properties of red wines such as colour, bitterness and astringency. Nevertheless, their synthesis and properties are still misunderstood. Some studies had suggested that the tannic pool was set before veraison. Thus, the comprehension of the relations between environment and setting of this tannic pool, up to the harvest, is not sufficient.

Délimitation des terroirs dans les A.O. Rueda et Toro (Castilla y León-Espagne)

La délimitation et la caractérisation des zones viticoles posent en Espagne des problèmes spécifiques non seulement dus aux caractéristiques propres au territoire mais aussi à la dimension, la distribution et l’indice d’occupation viticole dans les appellations d’origine.