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…

Metatranscriptomic analysis of “aszú” berries: the potential role of the most important species of the grape microbiota in the aroma of wines with noble rot

Botrytis cinerea has more than 1200 host plants and is one of the most important plant pathogens in viticulture. Under certain environmental conditions, it can lead to the development of a noble rot, which results in a specific metabolic profile, altering physical texture and chemical composition. The other microbes involved in this process and their functional genes are poorly characterised. We have generated metatranscriptomic [1,2] and DNA metabarcoding data from three months of the Furmint grape variety, representing the four phases of noble rot, from healthy berries to completely dried berries.

Read More

Study of Spanish wine sensory analysis data over a 3-year period

This study presents an investigation based on sensory analysis data of Spanish wines with geographical indications collected over a three-year period. Sensory analysis plays a crucial role in assessing the quality, characteristics, and perception of wines. The trained tasting panel at Dolmar Laboratory, accredited for objective sensory evaluation of wines since 2016, has been tasting over 5000 wines. However, it is since 2021, when a computer application for tastings was developed, that the digitalization of data allows for detailed statistical analysis of the results.

Read More

Symbiotic microorganisms application in vineyards: impacts on grapevine performance and microbiome

Microorganism-based inoculants have been suggested as a viable solution to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on viticulture. However, the actual effectiveness of these inoculants when applied under field conditions remains a challenge, and their effects on the existing soil microbiota are still uncertain. This study investigates the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on grapevine performance and microbiome. The study was conducted in a vineyard of Callet cultivar in Binissalem, Mallorca, Spain. Two different treatments were applied: control and inoculation with commercial mycorrhizae complex of Rhizoglomus irregulare applied to plants through irrigation.

Read More

Overall conceptual characterization of aged dry white wines using a mental descriptive questionnaire

The purpose of the present study was to understand the overall concept of an aged dry white wine using a descriptive mental questionnaire. A total of 680 worldwide participants, grouped according to their involvement in the wine business, replied to an online questionnaire to characterize the sensory analytical and synthetic descriptors of an aged dry white wine. The descriptors were selected using a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) approach concerning wine colour, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and global appreciation.

Read More

Oenological compatibility of biocontrol yeasts applied to wine grapes 

Antagonistic yeasts applied to wine grapes must be compatible with the thereafter winemaking process, avoiding competition with the fermentative Saccharomyces cerevisiae or affecting wine flavour. Therefore, fifteen epiphytic yeasts (6 Metschnikowia sp., 6 Hanseniaspora uvarum, 3 Starmerella bacillaris) previously selected for its biocontrol ability against Alternaria on wine grapes were evaluate for possible competition with S. cerevisiae by the Niche Overlap Index (NOI) employing YNB agar media with 10 mM of 17 different carbonate sources present in wine grapes (proline, asparagine, alanine, glutamic acid, tirosine, arginine, lisine, methionine, glicine, malic acid, tartaric acid, fructose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, sucrose, glucose).

Read More