Hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for monitoring grapevine physiology

AIM The main lead exposure route is the intake of contaminated food, water, and alcoholic beverages, in particular wine. At the gastric level, Pb is transformed into a soluble compound which, when conveyed into the bloodstream, is the long-term cause of saturnism, intoxication with neurotoxic, nephrotoxic and hematopoietic effects, and with the neurological developmental delay of children. Pb is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a 2A class, possible carcinogenic to humans. In an opinion on possible health risks, CONTAM considered that cereals, vegetables, drinking water, and wine give a greater contribute to dietary exposure to Pb in Europe. Large quantities of wine, beer, and other alcoholic products drinking can increase daily Pb intake above the maximum permitted levels.

Agrivoltaics (AV), the innovative dual-use of land for agriculture and photovoltaic energy production on the same land, offers a promising solution to the challenges of expanding renewable energy without compromising valuable agricultural land.

Fermentative maceration in white wine production, involving extended contact with grape skins and seeds, has gained interest in recent years. The impact of this winemaking technique on wine composition and sensory properties remains underexplored.

The ‘fresh mushroom off-flavour’ has been recognized by the wine industry as an emerging defect since the 2000s. For many years, this off-flavour was not specifically characterized and rather grouped under ‘earthy’ and ‘musty’ taints. However, it has become increasingly problematic due to its rising prevalence. In some vineyards, incidents of this off-flavour now occur as frequently as once every five years. This trend may be associated with climatic changes affecting regions that are more prone to warm and wet seasons.

Nitrogen fertilization is an important practice to guarantee vineyards sustainability and performance over years, while ensuring berry quality. However, achieving a precise nitrogen fertilization to meet specific objectives of production is difficult. There is a lack of knowledge on the impact of nitrogen fertilizers (soil/foliar; organic/mineral) and different levels of fertilization on the interactions between carbon and nitrogen cycles within the vine. Crop models may be useful in that purpose because they can provide new insights of the effects of fertilization in carbon and nitrogen storage. The objective of this study is to build a model to simulate grapevine carbon and nitrogen content in vines to evaluate the impact of different fertilization strategies in vine growth and yield.