From genes to vineyards: system biology and new breeding technologies for water stress tolerance in grapevines

La zona sur de la Isla de Tenerife elabora principalmente vinos blancos. Desde hace unos años se intenta elaborar mayor cantidad de vinos tintos, siendo los resultados obtenidos variables en función

There is an urgent need to develop protective measures for grapevines in historically significant dry-farming vineyards, particularly on Mediterranean islands.

Scientific information on grapevine response to predicted levels of climate parameters is scarce and not sufficient to properly position the Wine Industry for the future. It is critical that the combined effects of increased temperature and CO2 on grapevines should be examined, without omitting the important link to soil water conditions. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effects of envisioned changes in climatic parameters on the functioning and growth of young grafted grapevines under controlled conditions, simulating expected future climate changes. Scientific knowledge of precisely how the newly-planted grapevine will react morphologically, anatomically and physiologically (at leaf, root and whole plant level) to the expected changes in important climatic parameters will enable producers to make better-informed decisions regarding terroir, cultivar and rootstock choices as well as the adaptation of current cultivation practices.

The development of disease-resistant grapevine cultivars (PIWI) has become a key strategy to reduce fungicide inputs, increase climate resilience, and meet regulatory and societal demands for sustainable viticulture.

A total of 39 study sites from 11 commercial vineyards located in two traditional growing areas of Northern Italy were identified for airborne hyperspectral acquisition in summer 2009 with the Aisa-EAGLE Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor.