terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Enhancing table grape production: addressing challenges and opportunities for sustainability and quality improvement

Enhancing table grape production: addressing challenges and opportunities for sustainability and quality improvement

Abstract

Table grapes, being consumed as fresh, raisins, and transformed products are among the most appreciated fruits worldwide. Its popularity is increasing also due to its organoleptic and nutritional qualities that meet the consumers’ interest in healthier foods. Recent data from International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) revealed that table grape production has doubled in the last twenty years, and varietal availability has increased thanks to the several breeding programs.

To maintain the socio-economic impact of this sector, new challenges need to be addressed. As for the entire agrifood sector, table grape production faces decreasing water availability, increasing temperatures, but also with fungal diseases, all consequences of climate change. Moreover, the need to align with new market trends is growing the interest of the researchers. In this context, new opportunities are emerging in the sector of ready-to-eat grapes with higher shelf-life, especially for major exporting countries such as Chile, Italy, and USA.  This area of the market is currently dominated with the production of raisins for snacks, while the possibility of allocating part of the grape production to fresh-cut markets is less explored. Strategies to improve postharvest performances, reduce fungi attacks and postharvest decay of existing or new table grapes varieties are essential in this latter context. 

Current literature and ongoing projects highlight the importance of developing strategies that combine breeding and sustainable management to cope with these new challenges and open new perspectives. Exploring the wide biodiversity and studying the physiological and molecular responses of different cultivars to identify involved genes is becoming fundamental to select new genotypes better adapted to the changed environment and consumers’ needs. Moreover, a faster improvement might be obtained by combining breeding with innovative and sustainable technologies in pre- and postharvest stages to increase resilience, quality, and shelf-life.

Download the abstract

DOI:

Publication date: June 14, 2024

Issue: Open GPB 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Maria Francesca Cardone1

1 Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Research Center Viticulture and Enology (CREA-VE), Via Casamassima 148-70010 Turi (Ba), Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

Table grape, quality and shelf-life, sustainability, postharvest, ready-to-eat

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Open GPB | Open GPB 2024

Citation

Related articles…

Mycorrhizal symbiosis modulates flavonoid and amino acid profiles in grapes of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis is probably the most widespread beneficial interaction between plants and microorganisms. AMF has been widely reported to promote grapevine growth, water and nutrient uptake as well as both biotic and abiotic stress tolerance[1]. However, the impact of AMF on grape composition has been less studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the association between two commercial grapevine cultivars (Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon grafted onto 110 rootstock) and AMF on the anthocyanin, flavonol and amino acid concentrations and profiles of grapes.

Read More

Characterizing graft union formation in different scion/rootstock combinations of grapevine 

In most viticultural regions, grapevines are cultivated grafted, employing either hybrid or pure species of various American Vitis spp., such as V. berlandieri, V. rupestris, and V. riparia, as grapevine rootstocks. These rootstocks play a crucial role in providing resistance to the Phylloxera insect pest. Beyond Phylloxera resistance, it is desirable for grapevine rootstocks to exhibit resistance to other soil-borne pathogens and adaptability to abiotic stress conditions. The introduction of new rootstocks holds promise for adapting agriculture to climate change without altering the characteristics of the final harvested product.

Read More

Climate influence on the grapevine phenology and anthocyanins content in wines from the Skopje vineyard area, Republic of Macedonia

The phenological stages and the content of the anthocyanins of non-irrigated cultivars Blatina, Vranec, Kratoshija, Prokupec and Stanushina were study

Read More

Which risk assessment of water quality in pdo vineyards in Burgundy (France)?

To meet the demand of assessment tool of water managers we adapted to the vine production the INDIGO® method to developed initially for arable farming at the field scale.

Read More

Functional characterisation of genetic elements regulating bunch morphology in grapevine

Vitis vinifera L., is considered one of the world’s most important cultivated fruit crops. In agriculture, bunch morphology is a grapevine-specific trait, which directly impacts fruit quality and health.
Bunch size, shape, and compactness are major aspects of bunch morphology, with the degree of compactness emerging as an important trait for grapevine genetic enhancement and vineyard management. The importance of this trait stems from its impact on disease susceptibility, berry ripening, and other grape quality properties. However, current knowledge of the genes controlling it remains limited.

Read More