GiESCO 2019 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 GiESCO 2019 9 Sustainable yield management through fruitfulness and bunch architecture manipulation

Sustainable yield management through fruitfulness and bunch architecture manipulation

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study ‐ Vineyards are highly variable and this variation is largely driven by environmental conditions and seasonal variation. For example, warm temperatures and sunny days during bud initiation generally result in high yields in the next season while cold periods during flowering and fruitset can reduce yield. As such, this variation in yield and potentially quality is difficult to predict and therefore manage. Early and more accurate assessments of fruitfulness and bunch architecture may improve these predictions. Vineyard management can be used to manage this variation and limit negative impacts on production. This study summarises research that; (1) investigated different methods for the assessment of bud fertility and bunch architecture and (2) assessed the impact of different management techniques on fruitfulness, bunch architecture and resultant yield.

Material and methods – Vineyard management trials were carried out in South‐eastern Australia during the last 4 years and were performed on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Riesling, Grenache, Tempranillo, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Management strategies investigated include; winter pruning, shoot thinning, shoot leaf removal, and bunch thinning. Bud dissection and image analysis was used to assess bud fertility and the size of inflorescence primordia. Image analysis during the growing season and at harvest was used to assess bunch architecture and bunch volume. Bunch weight and yield were determined at harvest to assess yield performance and validate early predictions.

Results – Bud dissection using image analysis was an effective method for early prediction of fruitfulness and bunch weight (R2=0.79). Similarly, assessing bunch volume at veraison correlated with bunch weight 2 at harvest (R =0.78). Assessment methods used in these studies have the potential to be used commercially for yield prediction and management. Management strategies applied in different experimental trials varied in their impact on both bud fertility and bunch architecture (in the current and future seasons). Not surprisingly, timing, extent of application as well as variety had an impact on the final outcome. Understanding how different vineyard management approaches can manipulate components of yield can help producers to manage their vineyards to desired yield and quality outcomes. 

DOI:

Publication date: June 22, 2020

Issue: GiESCO 2019

Type: Article

Authors

Cassandra COLLINS (1), Xiaoyi Wang (1), Marco ZITO (1,2), Jingyun OUYANG (1), Annette JAMES(1), Roberta DE BEI (1), Catherine KIDMAN (1,3), Peter DRY(1)

(1) The University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, PMB 1 Glen Osmond, 5064, South Australia. Australia
(2) Istituto di Scienze della Vita, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Piazza dei Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy
(3) Wynns Coonawarra Estate, PO Box 319 Coonawarra, South Australia 5263, Australia

Contact the author

Keywords

bunch architecture, canopy management, bud fertility, fruitset, yield management

Tags

GiESCO 2019 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

WHAT’S FUTURE FOR SANTORINI’S VITICULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The own-rooted vineyard of Santorini is a unique case of vineyard worldwide that is been cultivated for thousands of years. On the island’s volcanic soil, the vines are still cultivated with traditional techniques, which are adapted to the specific and extreme weather conditions that prevail on it. While climate change is a reality in the Mediterranean region, will Santorini vineyard endure its impact? The study of the traditional training systems, techniques and vine density, as well as the application of sustainable solutions (cover crops and use of kaolin etc.) revealed sustainable methods for the adaptation of the local viticulture to new climatic phenomena that tend to be more and more frequent in the region due to climate change.

About validation of a method for the determination of volatile compounds in spirituous beverages using contained ethanol as a reference substance

The paper proposes an algorithm for validating a modified internal standard method using ethyl alcohol contained in the test sample as a reference substance.

A sensometabolomic approach to understand wine mouthfeel percepts

Targeted analytical methods can overlook compounds that are a priori unknown to play a role in the mouthfeel sensations. This limitation can be overcome with the information provided by untargeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC‐QTOF-MS. To this end, an untargeted metabolomic approach applied to 42 red wines has allowed development of a model with predictive capacity by cross-validation for the “dry”, “oily” and “unctuous” sensations perceived by a sensory panel. The optimal PLS model for “dry” retained compounds with positive regression coefficients (≥ 0.17) including a trimer procyanidin, a peptide, and four anthocyanins.

Changes in white wine composition after treatment with cationic exchange resin: impact on wine oxidation after 8 years of bottle storage

Samples from 3 wine types were treated with a cationic exchange resin (7 lots) and stored for 8 years (47 samples). Forty-seven parameters were determined, including (1) important substrates with impact in white wine oxidation and (2) markers of oxidation. From group 1, sugars, elements, phenolic compounds, α-dicarbonyls and SO2 and from group 2, browning (A420), acetaldehyde, alkanals, furanic compounds were quantified.

Exploring physiological diversity in Vitis genotypes: hydraulic traits in vines for oenological purposes and vines for table grapes

to maintain viticulture under global warming conditions, it is important to carefully select the appropriate genotypes for each vine-growing region and develop cultivars that are drought resistant. this ability is highly dependent on hydraulic traits, which are dynamic and vary according to the vine’s developmental stage and climatic conditions. this framework steadily enhances our understanding of the differences in drought resistance among vitis genotypes. however, there is still a need to comprehensively grasp the intra-specific variability, particularly between oenological and table grape cultivars.