REDWINE project: use of Chlorella vulgaris to prevent biotic and abiotic stress in Palmela’s region, Portugal, vineyards

he intensification of t vineyard practices led to an impoverishment of the biological diversity. In vineyard management, the reflection to reduce pesticides uses concerns mainly the soil management of the vineyard, and often focuses on flora management in the inter-row.

Seedless table grapes are greatly appreciated for fresh and dry consumption. There is also some interest in seedless winegrapes, because the combination of lower fruit set, smaller berries with higher skin/pulp ratio and looser bunches with the absence of seeds in crushed berries, a possible source of astringent tannins, might also have favorable effects on wine quality.
The gene VviAGL11 has been shown to play a central role in stenospermocarpy in Sultanina, but the molecular bases of other sources of stenospermocarpy as well as of parthenocarpy have not been clarified yet.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most important winegrape varieties in Chile. However, temperature raise and decreased rainfall due to climate change can lead to grape quality decrease in certain areas. Amino acids are essential as nitrogen source for yeast but also directly affect grape quality serving as precursors of certain volatile compounds that enhance the wine bouquet. Besides, glutathione is an important tripeptide acting as antioxidant, preventing the appearance of browning pigments in must and exerts a protective effect in volatile compounds.

The Valpolicella appellation, mainly known for Amarone and Ripasso, is experiencing growing interest in Valpolicella Superiore (VS), a lighter red wine aligning with consumer demand. However, anecdotal evidence suggests different stylistic interpretations of VS, potentially causing consumer confusion.

Downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, is the most economically impactful disease affecting grapevines. This polycyclic pathogen triggers both primary and secondary infection cycles, resulting in significant yield losses when effective disease control measures are lacking. Over the winter, the pathogen survives by forming resting structures, the oospores, derived from sexual reproduction, which produce the inoculum for primary infections. To optimize grapevine downy mildew control and obtain the desired levels of production while minimizing chemical inputs, it is crucial to optimize the timeframe for fungicide application. Disease forecasting models are useful to identify the infection risk.