terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Early defoliation positively enhances bioactive composition of berries with no effect on cuticle characteristics

Early defoliation positively enhances bioactive composition of berries with no effect on cuticle characteristics

Abstract

Leaf removal in the fruit-zone has been employed to improve cluster light exposure and ventilation and therefore increase metabolite accumulation and reduce botrytis incidence in berries. When applied before flowering (early defoliation – ED), it can also decrease cluster compactness and regulate yield in high-yielding varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ED on the physiology and metabolism of Aragonez (syn. Tempranillo) berries along the ripening period. The experiment was set up in 2013 at a commercial vineyard located in the Lisbon winegrowing region. ED was compared to a control non-defoliated (ND). Berry temperature was continuously monitored and normal heat hours (NHH) were calculated. Photosynthetic active radiation at cluster level (PARcluster) was monitored at five phenological stages (green berry (GB), pea size (PS), veraison (VER), mid-ripening (MR) and full maturation (FM). Various berry parameters were monitored: sugars, acidity, wax content, berry permeance, flavonoid compounds, abscisic acid (ABA) and related metabolites. As compared to ND, ED induced ~80% increase in PARcluster, and higher NHH. Consequently, accumulated temperatures above 35ºC were higher in ED than in ND. No differences in anthocyanin compounds were observed at FM, however, in ED the glucoside forms of anthocyanins reached their maximum concentration at MR. A high correlation was found between anthocyanins and NHH (r>0.83, p<0.01) as well as between flavonols and PARcluster (r=0.73, p<0.05). ABA was slightly higher in ND than in ED for the same NHH and after VER, ABA decreased faster in ED than in ND. ABA-GE increased exponentially from VER, reaching its maximum at MR in ND, while in ED it continued to accumulate through FM. Neither the wax content nor the cuticle permeance were affected by the ED treatment. Overall, ED induced changes in cluster-zone thermal and light microclimate which impacted berry ripening metabolism.

Acknowledgements: This research received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013), grant agreement nº 311775, Project Innovine.

DOI:

Publication date: October 16, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Olfa Zarrouk1,2, Ricardo Egipto2,3, Carla Pinheiro4, Cecilia Brunetti5,6, Antonella Gori6, Massimiliano Tattini5, M. Manuela Chaves1, Carlos M. Lopes2

1 Plant Molecular Ecophysiology Laboratory. Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
2 LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
3 INIAV – Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Polo de Inovação de Dois Portos, 2565-191 Dois Portos, Portugal
4 Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
5 IPSP – Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
6 DAGRI – Department of Agriculture, Environment, Food and Forestry, University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

ABA metabolism, anthocyanins, flavonols,
normal heat hours, Vitis vinifera, waxes

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Extreme vintages affect grape varieties differently: a case study from a cool climate wine region

Eger wine region is located on the northern border of grapevine cultivation zone. In the cool climate, terroir selection is one of the foundations of quality wine making. However, climate change will have a significant impact on these high value-added vineyards. This study presents a case study from 2021 and 2022 with the investigation of three grape varieties (Kadarka, Syrah, Furmint). The experiment was conducted in a steep-sloped vineyard (Nagy-Eged hill) with a southern exposure.

Read More

Drought responses of grapevine cultivars under different environments

Using grapevine genetic diversity is one of the strategies to adapt viticulture to climate change. In this sense, assessing the plasticity of cultivars in their responses to environmental conditions is essential. For this purpose, the drought tolerance of Grenache, Tempranillo and Semillon cultivars grafted onto SO4 was evaluated at two experimental vineyards, one located in Valencia (Spain) and the other in Bordeaux (France). This was done by assessing gas exchange parameters, water relations and leaf hydraulic traits at the end of the season.

Read More

Comparison of the effects of hormone- and natural-based elicitors on key metabolic pathways in cv. Tempranillo

One of the most important effects of climate change in wine-growing areas is the advance of phenological stages, especially concerning early berry ripening. In the hottest seasons, this results in a lack of synchrony between sugar and phenolic ripeness. In order to cope with this fact, a general effort is being made by researchers and growers aiming at delaying ripening through different strategies. One of the proposed approaches is the application of elicitors. This study aims to assess the effect at the transcriptomic level of application of three elicitors (Vitalfit, Fruitel, and Protone) in Tempranillo.

Read More

Anthocyanin content and composition of Merlot grapes under temperature and late pruning conditions 

One of the main aspects of Climate Change is the increase of temperatures during summer and grape maturity period. Physiological processes are influenced by these high temperatures and result in grapes with higher sugar concentration, less acidity and less anthocyanin content among other quality changes. One strategy to deal with the climate change effects is the implementation of late winter pruning to alter the effect of high temperatures during key periods by delays in maturity time.

Read More

Combined use of leaf removal and natural shading to delay grape ripening in Manto negro (Vitis vinifera L.) under deficit irrigation 

The increasingly frequent heat waves during grape ripening pose challenges for premium wine grape production. This makes the development of irrigation and canopy management techniques of great importance to maximize yield and grape quality. A field experiment was carried out during 2021 and 2022 using Manto negro wine grapes to study the effect of two irrigation strategies and different light exposure levels on grape quality.

Read More