A microwave digestion ICP-MS method for grapevine bark elemental profiling

Recent warming trends in climatic patterns are now evident from observational studies. Nowadays, investigating the possible impacts of climate change on biological systems has a great importance in several fields of science.

The South Western Cape of South Africa is exposed to strong southerly and south easterly synoptic winds during the growth period of the grapevine. The development of sea breezes in the afternoon is also a phenomenon associated with the ripening period of grapes cultivated in this coastal area. Wind is one of the environmental variables having the greatest spatial variation but the implications of regular exposure to wind for the performance of the grapevine has not yet been determined for vineyards in the South Western Cape. This study was initiated to meet this need.
The study was conducted in a hedge-trellised vineyard of Vitis vinifera L. cv Merlot with north east – south west row direction. Thirty experimental sites, each consisting of 14 vines, were identified as being exposed to wind or sheltered based on hand-held anemometer readings during the 2001/2002 season. Four stationary anemometers were strategically positioned between the thirty sites. Stomatal conductance and leaf temperature were measured with a PP systems porometer. Vegetative and yield measurements were performed during the 2002/2003 season. The t-test of equal variance was used to determine significant differences in measured parameters between exposed and sheltered grapevines.
Stomatal conductance and leaf area were significantly reduced by exposure to wind. This was associated with a significant reduction in the leaf area of primary shoots, related to shorter shoots, but a significant augmentation of secondary shoot leaf number and area. The number of bunches per vine and yield were also reduced for exposed vines. The berry potassium content was significantly increased for exposed grapevines.
This demonstrates that exposure to wind can result in significant within-vineyard, and potentially between-vineyard, variability in grapevine physiology, vegetative growth, yield and berry composition, with implications for wine style and quality.

As the frequency and intensity of drought events increase, understanding the mechanisms of plant resilience to water deficit is crucial. To maintain an appropriate plant yield, a common practice is the application of high amounts of fertilizers with negative environmental impacts. The single and combined effect of water deficit and nutrient availability, namely nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), in Vitis Vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache was evaluated. Two-year-old grapevine plants grafted on SO4 rootstock were transferred in pots under semi-environmental conditions. During the growing season, plants were either maintained well-watered (100% ETc) or subjected to a controlled water deficit irrigation (33% ETc).

L’étude des relations Terroir – Vigne – Raisin est complexe. La recherche et le développement des facteurs qualitatifs qui influencent le caractère des vins sont multiples. Divers travaux mettent en évidence la relation entre l’alimentation en eau de la plante, son développement végétatif et les caractéristiques de ses raisins.

Herbicides are commonly sprayed in the vine row to prevent competition with vines for water and minerals and to keep weeds from growing into the bunch zone. Sprays are applied before budbreak and reapplied multiple times during the season to keep the undervine bare. There is growing concern about the negative effects of herbicides on humans and the environment, and weeds in New Zealand have developed resistance to herbicides. Therefore, it is imperative that we reduce our reliance on herbicides in viticulture and incorporate methods that do not engender resistance.