terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 δ13C : A still underused indicator in precision viticulture  

δ13C : A still underused indicator in precision viticulture  

Abstract

The first demonstration of the interest of carbon isotope composition of sugars in grapevine, as an integrated indicator of vineyard water status, dates back to 2000 (Gaudillère et al., 1999; Van Leeuwen et al., 2001). Thanks to the isotopic discrimination of Carbon that takes place during plant photosynthesis, under hydric stress conditions, it is possible to accurately estimate the photosynthetic activity. Ever since, δ13C has been widely applied with success to zonation, terroir studies and vine physiology research, but is still not widely used by viticulturists. This is quite astonishing by considering the impact of global warming on viticulture and the need to improve water management, that would justify a widespread use of δ13C.
The lack of private laboratories proposing the analysis, the cost of the technology, as well as the long analytical delays, have been detrimental to its development. Some laboratories tried to overcome the analytical difficulties of isotopic analysis by using fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, as a fast and cheap alternative to the official OIV method (IRMS). These claimed FTIR models have never been published or peer reviewed and cannot be considered robust. In this work, thanks to the recent acquisition of IRMS technology, new modern and robust applications of δ13C for viticulture are proposed. This includes the use of the analysis to make parcel separations at harvesting, the possibility to increase the precision of hydric stress cartography and the potential cost reduction when compared with Scholander pressure bomb analysis. 

DOI:

Publication date: May 31, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Tommaso Nicolato and Vincent Renouf

EXCELL Laboratory, Floirac, France

Contact the author

Keywords

δ13C, water stress, isotopic analysis, irms, grapes

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Baccus: from framework to web platform for self-assessment of wine sustainability

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly present challenge, whether due to an increase in the level of perception and demand from consumers and stakeholders or the rise of events linked to climate change, which directly impacts agricultural-based sectors such as the vine and wine industry.

Sensory profiles and European Consumer Preference related to Aroma and Phenolic Composition of Wines made from Fungus Resistant Grape Varieties

New grape varieties with several resistance loci towards powdery and downy mildew allows to significantly reduce the use of fungicides

The complex response of Mediterranean viticultural systems to climate change: a case study from France and Australia

Climate change could put at risk viticultural areas situated at the hotter margins of Vitis vinifera growth climatic range. We focus on two such regions with a Mediterranean climate

Dry leaf hyperspectral reflectance predicts leaf elemental composition in grafted hybrids

Elemental composition, measured as the concentrations of different elements present in a given tissue at a given time point, is a key indicator of vine health and development. While elemental composition and other high-throughput phenotyping approaches yield tremendous insight into the growth, physiology, and health of vines, costs and labor associated with repeated measures over time can be cost-prohibitive. Recent advances in handheld sensors that measure hyperspectral reflectance patterns of leaf tissue may serve as an affordable proxy for other types of phenotypic data, including elemental composition. Here, we ask if reflectance patterns of dried Chambourcin leaf tissue from an experimental grafting vineyard can predict the known elemental composition of those leaves.

A global and regional study on winegrowers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the current and future state of the wine sector in the context of climate change, where the goal was to obtain greater understanding on winegrowers’ perceptions and adaptations to a changing climate and its associated impacts. The study sought to provide both a global and regional perspective on these issues.