Geostatistical analysis of the vineyards in the canton of Geneva in relation to soil and climate

Against the background of climate change and the increasing impact of phytopathogenic agents of mycotic origin on the vine favors the appearance and toxicity of mycotoxins in wine.

Fungicides play a critical role in managing grapevine downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola, a biotrophic and polycyclic pathogen with a high risk of fungicide resistance. Zoxamide, categorized as a low to medium resistance risk, disrupts cell division by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Resistance to zoxamide is uncommon in field isolates. This six-year study (2017-2022) aimed to detect and quantify zoxamide sensitivity in P. viticola populations across varying resistance pressures in Italian grapevine regions. Analysis of 126 samples from 57 vineyards, mainly in North-Eastern Italy, revealed that most samples exhibited EC50, EC95, and MIC values below 0.1 and 10 mg/L of zoxamide, respectively. Nineteen vineyards showed reduced sensitivity (MIC>100 mg/L), but only four samples were characterized by 24-54% resistant oospores at >100 mg/L of zoxamide.

Non-Saccharomyces starter cultures became increasingly popular over the years because of their potential to produce more distinctive and unique wines. The major benefit of the use of Lachancea thermotolerans as a fermentation starter is its ability to produce relevant amounts of lactic acid and reduce alcoholic strength, making it valuable for mitigating negative impacts of climate change on grapes and wine quality. Besides, like any other non-Saccharomyces yeast, L. thermotolerans can significantly affect a whole range of other physico-chemical wine parameters.

Drought and heat stress will pose challenges for the future of viticulture and wine quality, as grapevine biological processes are pushed beyond their optimum conditions. Efforts are increasing to study and predict the effects of drought spells and heatwaves on grapevine physiology and resulting harvest quality. This calls for the development of adequate systems to induce and manipulate the required stress, especially in open field trials where conditions are more difficult to control. We present a semi-controlled system for studying drought and heat stress in grapevine in the field.

In recent decades, the scarcity of water resources in agriculture in certain areas has been aggravated by climate change, which has caused an increase in temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, as well as an increase in the frequency of extreme phenomena such as droughts and heat waves. Although the vine is considered a drought-tolerant specie, it has to satisfy important water requirements to complete its cycle, which coincides with the hottest and driest months. Achieving sustainable viticulture in this scenario requires high levels of efficiency in the use of water, a scarce resource whose use is expected to be severely restricted in the near future. In this regard, the use of drought-tolerant varieties that are able to maintain grape yield and quality could be an effective strategy to face this change. During three consecutive seasons (2018-2020) the behavior in rainfed regime of 13 traditional red grapevine varieties of the Spain central region was studied. These varieties were cultivated in a collection at Centro de Investigación de la Vid y el Vino de Castilla-La Mancha (IVICAM-IRIAF) located in Tomelloso (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Yield components (yield, mean bunch and berry weight, pruning weight), physicochemical parameters of the musts (brix degree, total acidity, pH) and some physiological parameters related with water stress during ripening period (δ13C, δ18O) were analysed. The application of different statistical techniques to the results showed the existence of significant differences between varieties in their response to stressful conditions. A few varieties highlighted for their high ability to adapt to drought, being able to maintain high yields due to their efficiency in the use of water. In addition, it was possible quantify to what extent climate can be a determinant in the δ18O of musts under severe water stress conditions.