Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Application of ultrasonic and refractometric measurements in enological samples and related model solutions

Application of ultrasonic and refractometric measurements in enological samples and related model solutions

Abstract

AIM: The refractive index is a basic optical property of materials and a key tool for the determination of major components in musts, such as sugars. Ultrasonic based technology is emerging as a well-suited tool for monitoring food processes and quality, and in particular it has been applied in predicting the alcohol content and measuring the ultrasonic velocity in enological products. The aim of this study is to combine the applications of these two technologies to quantify alcohol and residual sugar in real and model enological samples. The effects of major wine and must components on the combined application of these analytical tools are investigated.

METHODS: Refractometric and sonic Brix values were determined using a LP10 sensor (Maselli Misure, Parma, Italy) working at controlled temperature. The selection of the real enological samples for the study has been made during the 2020 harvest in South Tyrol (Italy). The model solutions were prepared at different combinations of different levels of ethanol in water, glucose, tartaric acid, malic acid and gallic acid as major wine components. For these model solutions, firstly the levels of each component were chosen upon a likelihood criterium, then to reduce the number of analyses to run. A refined randomized selection of these combinations was chosen according to a D-Optimal experimental design, calculated on the R-based application CAT, with a large enough number of selected experiments to ensure representativeness. The statistical analysis of the results for the real and model samples has been performed on CAT and XLStat (Addinsoft, France).

RESULTS: A statistical analysis of the obtained results allowed to investigate the effects of the major constituents on the Brix and alcohol determinations by combined refractometric and acoustic analyses, in real and model enological samples. The calculated models showed that the effects of interactions between variables/chemical components and non-linear contributions cannot be a priori ruled out in order to accurately explain the instrumental responses to the variations of these major components. As an alternative, the evaluation of separate models for more limited experimental domains (e.g. only musts, only dry wines or musts undergoing fermentation) is also discussed. The effects of the residual sugar and alcohol content on the determination of refractive and sonic Brix are discussed in detail.

CONCLUSIONS

In samples collected during fermentations or in wines, the application of this combined technique for residual sugar and alcohol determinations could be feasible, provided that the full dependence of these refractometric and acoustic parameters on the major sample components and their interactions is well understood, and the related mathematical models validated over the widest possible range of enological samples. Some mathematical models have been proposed and discussed along with validation.

DOI:

Publication date: September 7, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Matteo Sesenna

Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; Oenolab, NOITechpark, via Alessandro Volta 13, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy,Edoardo, LONGO, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; Oenolab, NOITechpark, via Alessandro Volta 13, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy  Alessandro, FORNASIER, University of Turin (Italy), DISAFA – Food Science and Technology  Luca ROLLE University of Turin (Italy), DISAFA – Food Science and Technology  Ulrich PEDRI, Institute for Fruit Growing and Viticulture, Laimburg Research Center, Laimburg 6, I-39051 Pfatten, Italy  Danila CHIOTTI, Institute for Fruit Growing and Viticulture, Laimburg Research Center, Laimburg 6, I-39051 Pfatten, Italy  Emanuele, BOSELLI, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; Oenolab, NOITechpark, via Alessandro Volta 13, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy

Contact the author

Keywords

refractometric brix; ultrasonic brix; sugars; ethanol

Citation

Related articles…

Impact of long term agroecological and conventional practices on subsurface soil microbiota in Macabeu and Xarel·lo vineyards

There is a growing trend on the transition from conventional to agroecological management of vineyards. However, the impact of practices, such as reduced-tillage, organic fertilization and cover crops, is not well-understood regarding the soil microbial diversity, and its relationship with the soil physicochemical properties in the subsurface depth near the rooting zone. Soil bacterial diversity is an important contributor towards plant health, productivity and response to environmental stresses. A field experiment was conducted by sampling subsurface soil bacterial community (NGS and qPCR) near to the root zone of Macabeu and Xarel·lo vineyards, located at the Penedes. 3 organic (ECO) and 3 conventional (CON) vineyards, with more than 10 years of respective management were sampled (n=5 each plot). ECO practices did not affect bacterial and fungal abundance but increased significantly the ammonium oxidizing bacteria and alpha-diversity (Inv.Simpson). Interestingly beta-diversity was significantly affected by the management strategy. ANOSIM-tests revealed a significative effect of the management (ecological vs conventional) and plot, on the soil microbial structure (ASV abundance). Main phyla depicted were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria, whose relative abundances were not affected by the management. EdgeR assay revealed a significant increase of Cyanobacteria and decrease of Gemmatimonadetes and Firmicutes phyla in ECO. Interestingly, the grapevine variety was not correlated with the soil microbial community structure. Mantel-test revealed an important correlation (Spearman) of some physicochemical parameters with the soil microbiota structure, in order of importance: texture, EC, pH Ca/Mg, Mg/P, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42-, and OM. N-NH4 and NTK, which were higher in the ECO managed soils, did not correlated significantly with the soil microbiome population. The results revealed the importance of combining a deep physicochemical characterization of each replicate with the microbial diversity assessment to gain better insights on the relationship between soil microbiome and vineyard management.

Genotypic variability in root architectural traits and putative implications for water uptake in grafted grapevine

Root system architecture (RSA) is important for soil exploration and edaphic resources acquisition by the plant, and thus contributes largely to its productivity and adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly soil water deficit. In grafted grapevine, while the degree of drought tolerance induced by the rootstock has been well documented in the vineyard, information about the underlying physiological processes, particularly at the root level, is scarce, due to the inherent difficulties in observing large root systems in situ. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic differences in the root architectural traits and their relationships to water uptake in two Vitis rootstocks genotypes (RGM, 140Ru) differing in their adaptation to drought. Young rootstocks grafted upon the Riesling variety were transplanted into cylindrical tubes and in 2D rhizotrons under two conditions, well watered and moderate water stress. Root traits were analyzed by digital imaging and the amount of transpired water was measured gravimetrically twice a week. Root phenotyping after 30 days reveal substantial variation in RSA traits between genotypes despite similar total root mass; the drought-tolerant 140Ru showed higher root length density in the deep layer, while the drought-sensitive RGM was characterised by shallow-angled root system development with more basal roots and a larger proportion of fine roots in the upper half of the tube. Water deficit affected canopy size and shoot mass to a greater extent than root development and architectural-related traits for both 140Ru and RGM, suggesting vertical distribution of roots was controlled by genotype rather than plasticity to soil water regime. The deeper root system of 140Ru as compared to RGM correlated with greater daily water uptake and sustained stomata opening under water-limited conditions but had little effect on above-ground growth. Our results highlight that grapevine rootstocks have constitutively distinct RSA phenotypes and that, in the context of climate change, those that develop an extensive root network at depth may provide a desirable advantage to the plant in coping with reduced water resources.

A blueprint for managing vine physiological balance at different spatial and temporal scales in Champagne

In Champagne, the vine adaptation to different climatic and technical changes during these last 20 years can be seen through physiological balance disruptions. These disruptions emphasize the general grapevine decline. Since the 2000s, among other nitrogen stress indicators, the must nitrogen has been decreasing. The combination of restricted mineral fertilizers and herbicide use, the growing variability of spring rainfall, the increasing thermal stress as well as the soil type heterogeneity are only a few underlying factors that trigger loss of physiological balance in the vineyards. It is important to weigh and quantify the impact of these factors on the vine. In order to do so, the Comité Champagne uses two key-tools: networking and modelization. The use of quantitative and harmonized ecophysiological indicators is necessary, especially in large spatial scales such as the Champagne appellation. A working group with different professional structures of Champagne has been launched by the Comité Champagne in order to create a common ecophysiology protocol and thus monitor the vine physiology, yearly, around 100 plots, with various cultural practices and types of soil. The use of crop modelling to follow the vine physiological balance within different pedoclimatic conditions enables to understand the present balance but also predict the possible disruptions to come in future climatic scenarios. The physiological references created each year through the working group, benefit the calibration of the STICS model used in Champagne. In return, the model delivers ecophysiology indicators, on a daily scale and can be used on very different types of soils. This study will present the bottom-up method used to give accurate information on the impacts of soil, climate and cultural practices on vine physiology.

Soil quality in Beaujolais vineyard. Importance of pedology and cultural practices

A pedological study was carried out from 2009 to 2017 in Beaujolais vineyard, to improve physical and chemical knowledge of soils. It was completed in 2016 and 2017 by the current study, dealing with microbial aspects, in order to build a reference frame for improved advice in soil management. Microbial biomass was measured on representative plots of the six most common soil types identified in Beaujolais and, for each soil type, on plots with different levels of the main impacting parameters: total organic carbon, pH, cation exchange capacity, extractable copper. A total of 59 soil samples were collected. Confirming the results of various trials carried out in Beaujolais over the past 20 years, the results of the present study showed that the soils were still alive, but exhibited a large variability of biological parameters, which appeared dependant on both pedological and anthropic factors. Therefore, a good interpretation of biological parameters and advice for vine growers must rely on a pedologically-based referential with differentiated main driving factors. For example, the control of pH is of primary importance in granitic soils and in no way organic matter addition can improve soil quality if pH is too low. Conversely, in calcareous soils, biological parameters are more directly affected by direct or indirect (cover crops for example) inputs of organic matter. The use of biological parameters, such as microbial biomass, is of great potential value to improve advice on agro-viticultural practices (soil management, fertilization, liming, etc.), basis of a sustainable wine production on fragile soils.

A predictive model of spatial Eca variability in the vineyard to support the monitoring of plant status

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...