GiESCO 2019 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 GiESCO 2019 9 Firmness of the grapes. Mechanical tests and definition of indices. Study of the evolution of berry skin resistance during alcoholic fermentation

Firmness of the grapes. Mechanical tests and definition of indices. Study of the evolution of berry skin resistance during alcoholic fermentation

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study: The mechanical strength or firmness of a fruit is considered an important parameter to characterize its state of maturity or conservation, as other parameters such as sugar level or color. The mechanical resistance of grapes influences the integrity and sanitary quality of the harvest. In this study, the mechanical characteristics of grapes berries are studied at harvesting time in order to determine their properties of firmness and the resistance of the berry skin during the alcoholic fermentation. Special indices are defined measuring the energy needed to crush 50% of the initial diameter of the berry. We applied these indices to different varieties and get different results either for the entire berry firmness or for the skin resistance.

Material and methods : To evaluate the firmness of grapes, INRA has developed a tool specifically adapted to measure the skin resistance of the grapes (Penelaup Robot, patented). We used here two grape varieties: Grenache Noir and Carignan Noir.Firmness of the entire berries were measured at harvesting. Right after, the fermentations were conducted at 21°C, in low volume tanks (<1kg) using “French Press” coffee plunger with similar and standard conditions. 1 kg of berries were crushed and poured in the tank. Lalvin ICV OKAY yeast (20 g/hL) and SO2 (250 µL of a 8% solution) were added simultaneously. Cap management was carried out every day during alcoholic fermentation (AF) by submerging pomace with the plunger. The decrease of sugar concentration was monitored by measuring the Brix degree and the density. Fermentations were considered done when the density remained stable (7 to 8 days) with density less than 995. At the end of AF the classical wine chemical parameters were determined. Skin resistance measurements were carried out at the beginning and at the end of AF plus several points in between.

Results: We defined mechanical indices dedicated to the firmness of grapes. Using these indices, the result of this study shows differences in firmness related to the grape varieties: Grenache Noir and Carignan Noir have different mechanical properties. Similarly, during the alcoholic fermentation, the resistance of the skins highlights different properties of the berries immersed in the fermenting must. This had never measured until now. These results give new information on the mechanical properties of the grapes. It would help the winemaker to better choose the type of fermentation and maceration adapted to his grapes depending on the type of wine he wants to produce.

DOI:

Publication date: June 19, 2020

Issue: GiESCO 2019

Type: Article

Authors

Abbal, PHILIPPE (1), Céline PONCET LEGRAND (1), Stephanie CARILLO (1), Magali BES (3), Marie Agnès DUCASSE (4) , Elissa ABI‐HABIB (2), Aude VERHNET (2)

(1) INRA, UMR SPO 2, Place viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex
(2) SupAgro, 2, Place viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex
(3) INRA, UMT Minicave, UE Pech Rouge, 11430 Gruissan
(4) IFV, UMT Minicave, Domaine de Pech Rouge, 11430 Gruissan

Contact the author

Keywords

grapes, firmness, rheology, berry skin, fermentation

Tags

GiESCO 2019 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Influence of grapevine rootstock/scion combination on rhizosphere and root endophytic microbiomes

Soil is a reservoir of microorganisms playing important roles in biogeochemical cycles and interacting with plants whether in the rhizosphere or in the root endosphere. The composition of the microbial communities thus impacts the plant health. Rhizodeposits (such as sugar, organic and amino acids, secondary metabolites, dead root cells …) are released by the roots and influence the communities of rhizospheric microorganisms, acting as signaling compounds or carbon sources for microbes. The composition of root exudates varies depending on several factors including genotypes. As most of the cultivated grapevines worldwide are grafted plants, the aim of this study was to explore the influence of rootstock and scion genotypes on the microbial communities of the rhizosphere and the root endosphere. The work was conducted in the GreffAdapt plot (55 rootstocks x 5 scions), in which the 275 combinations have been planted into 3 blocks designed according to the soil resistivity. Samples of roots and rhizosphere of 10 scion x rootstock combinations were first collected in May among the blocks 2 and 3. The quantities of bacteria, fungi and archaea have been assessed in the rhizosphere by quantitative PCR, and by cultivable methods for bacteria and fungi. The communities of bacteria, fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was analyzed by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, ITS and 28S rRNA gene, respectively. The level of mycorrhization was also evaluated using black ink coloration of newly formed roots harvested in October. The level of bacteria, fungi and archaea was dependent on rootstock and scion genotypes. A block effect was observed, suggesting that the soil characteristics strongly influenced the microorganisms from the rhizosphere and root endosphere. High-throughput sequencing of the different target genes showed different communities of bacteria, fungi and AMF associated with the scion x rootstock combinations. Finally, all the combinations were naturally mycorrhized. The root mycorrhization intensity was influenced by the rootstock genotype, but not by the scion one. Altogether, these results suggest that both rootstock and scion genotypes influence the rhizosphere and root endophytic microbiomes. It would be interesting to analyze the biochemical composition of the rhizodeposition of these genotypes for a better understanding of the processes involved in the modulation of these microbiomes. Moreover, crossing our data with the plant agronomic characteristics could provide insights into their roles on plant fitness.

Optimizing stomatal traits for future climates

Stomatal traits determine grapevine water use, carbon supply, and water stress, which directly impact yield and berry chemistry. Breeding for stomatal traits has the strong potential to improve grapevine performance under future, drier conditions, but the trait values that breeders should target are unknown. We used a functional-structural plant model developed for grapevine (HydroShoot) to determine how stomatal traits impact canopy gas exchange, water potential, and temperature under historical and future conditions in high-quality and hot-climate California wine regions (Napa and the Central Valley). Historical climate (1990-2010) was collected from weather stations and future climate (2079-99) was projected from 4 representative climate models for California, assuming medium- and high-emissions (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). Five trait parameterizations, representing mean and extreme values for the maximum stomatal conductance (gmax) and leaf water potential threshold for stomatal closure (Ψsc), were defined from meta-analyses. Compared to mean trait values, the water-spending extremes (highest gmax or most negative Ysc) had negligible benefits for carbon gain and canopy cooling, but exacerbated vine water use and stress, for both sites and climate scenarios. These traits increased cumulative transpiration by 8 – 17%, changed cumulative carbon gain by -4 – 3%, and reduced minimum water potentials by 10 – 18%. Conversely, the water-saving extremes (lowest gmax or least negative Ψsc) strongly reduced water use and stress, but potentially compromised the carbon supply for ripening. Under RCP 8.5 conditions, these traits reduced transpiration by 22 – 35% and carbon gain by 9 – 16% and increased minimum water potentials by 20 – 28%, compared to mean values. Overall, selecting for more water-saving stomatal traits could improve water-use efficiency and avoid the detrimental effects of highly negative canopy water potentials on yield and quality, but more work is needed to evaluate whether these benefits outweigh the consequences of minor declines in carbon gain for fruit production.

Ecophysiological performance of Vitis rootstocks under water stress

The use of rootstocks tolerant to soil water deficit is an interesting strategy to cope with limited water availability. Currently, several nurseries are breeding new genotypes, but the physiological basis of its responses under water stress are largely unknown. To this end, an ecophysiological assessment of the conventional 110-Richter (110R) and SO4, and the new M1 and M4 rootstocks was carried out in potted ungrafted plants. During one season, these Vitis genotypes were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to two water regimes, well-watered and water deficit. Water potentials of plants under water deficit down to < -1.4 MPa, and net photosynthesis (AN) <5 μmol m-2 s-1 did not cause leaf oxidative stress damage compared to well-watered conditions in any of the genotypes. The antioxidant capacity was sufficient to neutralize the mild oxidative stress suffered. Under both treatments, gravimetric differences in daily water use were observed among genotypes, leading to differences in the biomass of root, shoot and leaf. Under well-watered conditions, SO4 and 110R were the most vigorous and M1 and M4 the least. However, under water stress, SO4 exhibited the greatest reduction in biomass while M4 showed the lowest. Remarkably, under these conditions, SO4 reached the least negative stem water potential (Ψstem), while M1 reduced stomatal conductance (gs) and AN the most. In addition, SO4 and M1 genotypes also showed the highest and lowest hydraulic conductance values, respectively. Our results suggest that there are differences in water use regulation among genotypes, not only attributed to differences in stomatal regulation or intrinsic water use efficiency at the leaf level. Therefore, because no differences in canopy-to-root ratio were achieved, it is hypothesized that xylem vessel anatomical differences may be driving the reported differences among rootstocks performance. Results demonstrate that each Vitis rootstock differs in its ecophysiological responses under water stress.

Effects of graft quality on growth and grapevine-water relations

Climate change is challenging viticulture worldwide compromising its sustainability due to warmer temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme events. Grafting Vitis vinifera L.

A predictive model of spatial Eca variability in the vineyard to support the monitoring of plant status

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...