Proposition of a simplified approach of the viticultural landscape

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.

Context and purpose of the study ‐ Recently early defoliation (ED) has been tested in several high‐ yielding grapevine varieties and sites aiming at reducing cluster compactness and hence, regulating yield and susceptibility to botrytis bunch rot infection. The reported results have been generally positive, encouraging growers to use this canopy management technique as an alternative for replacing the conventional time‐consuming cluster thinning and, simultaneously, as a sustainable practice to reduce the use of fungicides. However, ED increases berry sunburn risks and/or can induce carry‐over effects on vigor and node fruitfulness as shown in the two case studies reported in this work.

Le territoire de Suzette se développe sur un grand coteau viticole et boisé situé au cœur du site naturel des Dentelles de Montmirail (40km au nord d’Avignon). Ce site est à la fois l’un des pôles d’attraction touristique du département et le lieu d’une production viticole renommée (Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, … ). Cet ensemble remarquable de terrasses viticoles et de crêtes rocheuses et boisées, forme un des paysages emblématiques du Vaucluse. La commune est actuellement soumise à une importante pression foncière due à une forte demande résidentielle. Le paysage du coteau forme et possède de ce fait un patrimoine culturel de valeur et une image de marque importante pour la production viticole locale.

Galicia is situated in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula, just north of Portugal and so sharing a mild, maritime climate, certain vine species and a number of long-standing viticultural traditions. In Galicia about 18,000 has are dedicated to wine growing, of which roughly half (46%) correspond to the 6 DOs in the area.

The inherent variability of Nature poses challenges for researchers to draw clear conclusions from field experiments. Identifying and assessing adaptations to climate change requires agronomic field trials.