Terroir 2008 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Radiative and thermal effects on fruit ripening induced by differences in soil colour

Radiative and thermal effects on fruit ripening induced by differences in soil colour

Abstract

One of the intrinsic parts of a vineyard “terroir” is soil type and one of the characteristics of the soil is it’s colour. This can differ widely from bright white, as for some calcareous soils, to red, as in “terra rossa” soils, or black, as in slate soils. The aim of this study was to assess how soil colour can influence vineyard microclimate and fruit properties including aroma precursors. After flowering, (BBCH 79) a loess-type soil (control) was covered with a thin layer of three different materials: a) black coarse slate, b) red clay brick, and c) white pumice. The vines (Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Riesling and Pinot noir) were trained to a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) system. Surface colour had significant effects on the quantity and quality of reflected radiation into the fruiting zone. The pumice covered soil showed the highest amount of reflected – and the highest ratio of red-to far red light, important in phytochrome mediated enzyme activity in the fruit.
Large thermal effects on soil surface temperature and on berry skin temperature were found. By varying the distance of clusters to the ground, the temperature of berry skins declined rapidly within the first 0.3 m when fruit was exposed to the red, white or natural coloured soil. In contrast, over coarse ground slate the absolute berry surface temperature was higher and remained constant over the same distances. Berry ripening was affected by surface colour and preliminary results indicate that altered vineyard microclimate has effects on berry composition.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

M. STOLL (1), M. STUEBINGER (2), M. LAFONTAINE (1) and H. R. SCHULTZ (1,2)

(1) Fachgebiet Weinbau, Institut für Weinbau und Rebenzüchtung, Forschungsanstalt, D-65366 Geisenheim
(2) Fachhochschule Wiesbaden, Fachbereich Geisenheim, D-65366 Geisenheim

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

Wines empirical perception and growers management practices in the Anjou Villages Brissac vineyard (France)

The concept of viticultural terroir includes soil, sub-soil, and climatic factors but also many management viticultural and oenological practices which are chosen according to know-how of the winegrowers.

White grape juice consumption reduce muscle damage parameters in combat athletes

Introduction and objective: the practice of physical exercises in an exhaustive way is related to damage. Muay thai (mt) is a high-intensity sport that demands agility, strength and power, which can lead to fatigue and muscle damage. Grape juice is rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants, which can delay the onset of fatigue and muscle damage. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of white grape juice consumption, during 14 days, on muscle damage parameters in tm athletes.

AI and blockchain synergy-driven reconstruction of nutritional health value chains in the wine industry

The increasing demand for healthier, more transparent, and sustainable wine products has prompted the need for innovative solutions to optimize the wine health value chain.

Exploring typicity in Nebbiolo wines across different areas through chemical analysis

“Nebbiolo” is a red winegrape variety well known to produce monovarietal wines in Piemonte, Valle d’Aosta, and Lombardia regions, taking part to 7 DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) and 22 DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) protected designations of origin (PDO) [1,2].

Les AOC : un frein ou un moteur à l’innovation ? Retour sur l’histoire économique, scientifique, sociale et technique des vins d’appellation au XXe siècle en France

At a time when the world’s winegrowing industry is having to adapt to a number of challenges, winegrowers are wondering about the consequent changes they will have to make (grape varieties, changes in vineyard and cellar techniques). For winegrowers and consumers alike, there is also the question of how these changes will affect the taste of their wines. This research, based on the study of numerous sources and archives from the 20th century, some of which have never been published before, aims to show that, in the recent past, the winegrowing world has shown incredible resilience in the face of crises, and that the taste and perception of fine wines has changed considerably in 100 years.