terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 The use of δ13C as an indicator of water use efficiency for the selection of drought tolerant grapevine varieties

The use of δ13C as an indicator of water use efficiency for the selection of drought tolerant grapevine varieties

Abstract

In the context of climate change with increasing evaporative demand, understanding the water use behavior of different grapevine cultivars is of critical importance. Carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C) measurements in wine provide a precise and integrated assessment of the water status of the vines during the sugar accumulation period in grape berries. When collected over multiple vintages on different cultivars, δ13C measurements can also provide insights into the effects of genotype on water use efficiency. More specifically, cultivars with more negative values of δ13C (indicating later stomatal regulation) in non-limiting conditions could reveal higher vulnerability to drought [1]. Thus, selecting varieties with less negative δ13C values in non-limiting conditions could be a potential lever for adaptation to climate change.

A 2-hectare parcel was planted with 84 red and white cultivars in 2013, in the Haut Médoc wine region (Bordeaux, France) within a commercial wine-growing estate. Among those 84 cultivars, 7 were vinified over 5 vintages, 19 over 4 vintages and 24 over 3 vintages, resulting in a dataset of δ13C of 50 different cultivars over 3 to 5 vintages. The varieties included all the traditional Bordeaux varieties, some common varieties of Spain and Portugal, as well as other widely planted French varieties.

The vintage effect was clearly shown in the analyses, with the wettest vintages expressing more negative values of δ13C than drier vintages. δ13C values were also significantly different depending on the cultivar, allowing for a characterization of the 50 cultivars for their water use efficiency in limiting and non-limiting conditions. These results provide insights in the strategy of the cultivar’s water use and could help identifying potential drought tolerant varieties.

  1. Plantevin, M., Gowdy, M., Destrac-Irvine, A., Marguerit, E., Gambetta, G. A., & van Leeuwen, C. (2022). Using δ13C and hydroscapes for discriminating cultivar specific drought responses. OENO One56(2), 239–250. https://doi.org/10.20870/oeno-one.2022.56.2.5434

DOI:

Publication date: October 11, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Marc Plantevin1, Yoann Merpault1, Mark Gowdy1, Gregory A. Gambetta1, Elisa Marguerit1, Julien Lecourt2, Cornelis van Leeuwen1

1EGFV, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, F-33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France
2Pôle Scientifique, Bernard Margez Grands Vignobles, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Contact the author*

Keywords

climate change, δ13C, water use efficiency, drought tolerance, Vitis Vinifera

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Influence of polysaccharide extracts from wine by-products on the volatile composition of sparkling white wines

In the production of sparkling wines, during the second fermentation, mannoproteins are released by yeast autolysis, which affect the quality of the wines. The effect of mannoproteins has been extensively studied, and may affect aroma and foam quality. However, there are no studies on the effect of other polysaccharides such as those from grapes. Considering the large production of waste from the wine industry, it was proposed to obtain polysaccharide-rich extracts from some of these by-products[1].

Decoupling the effects of water and heat stress on Sauvignon blanc berries

Climate changes have important consequences in viticulture, heat waves accompanied by periods of drought are encountered more and more frequently. This study aims to evaluate the single and combined effect of water deficit and high temperatures on the thiol precursors biosynthesis in Sauvignon blanc grapes. For this purpose, a protocol has been developed for the cultivation of berries on a solid substrate. The berries, collected at three different times starting from veraison and grown in vitro, were subjected to 4 different treatments: control (C), water stress (WS), heat stress (HS), combined water and heat stress (WSHS). Water stress was simulated by adding abscisic acid to the culture medium, while different temperatures, respectively 25°C and 35°C, were managed with two illuminated climatic chambers.

“Compost Application in the Vineyard: Effects on Soil Nutrition and Compaction”

The mechanization of pruning and harvesting in vineyards has increased the risk of soil compaction. To reclaim soil properties or avoid this degradation process, it is crucial to properly manage the soil organic matter, and the application of compost derived from the vines themselves is a strategy to achieve this. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of soil treated with different doses of compost applied both on the vine row and the inter rows of a Vitis vinifera crop.

Indicators of Sustainable Vineyard Soil Management: Metrics for Assessing Environmental Impacts

The vital role of soils in supporting life on our planet cannot be overstated. Soils provide numerous ecosystem services and functions, including biomass production, carbon sequestration, physical support, biological habitat, and genetic reserve, among others. Understanding the characteristics and sensitivity of soils in a specific terroir, along with effective soil management practices, is crucial for the sustainable management of natural resources.

Oenococcus oeni clonal diversity in the carbonic maceration winemaking

This essay was aimed to describe the clonal diversity of Oenococcus oeni in the malolactic fermentation of the carbonic maceration (CM) winemaking. The free and the pressed liquids from CM were sampled and compared to the wine from a standard winemaking with previous destemming and crushing (DC) of grapes [1]. O. oeni strain typification was performed by PFGE as González-Arenzana et al. described (2014) [2]. Results showed that 13 genotypes, referred as to letters, were distinguished from the 49 isolated strains, meaning the genotype “a” the 27%, the “b” the 14%, the “c” the 12%, the “d and e” the 10 % each other, and the remaining ones less than the 8% each one.