Nematode vectors, grape fanleaf virus (GFLV) incidence and free virus vine plants obtaining in “Condado de Huelva” vineyards zone

Due to the central role of the ripening timing in the evaluation of the varietal response to the environmental resources, a method to manage maturation curves has been developed. The method produces an index of veraison precocity and overcomes several methodological problems, like the visual evaluation of the veraison point and the multi-annual and multi-varieties data processing. It is based on a statistical and mathematical processing of the sugar ripening curves.

La véraison, stade intermédiaire du développement de la baie de raisin, correspond au début de la maturation. Aux modifications de coloration de la pellicule sont associées une perte de fermeté, une diminution de l’acidité et une augmentation des teneurs en sucres et pigments ainsi que du volume de la baie. Le stade de véraison des cépages blancs reste difficile à apprécier visuellement. Son évaluation par palpation est subjective et donc sujette à caution.

The accession Criolla Chica Nº2 (CCN2) is catalogued as a floral mutation of cultivar Criolla Chica (synonym for cv. Listán Prieto). Contrary to what is observed in hermaphrodite-cultivated varieties like Criolla Chica, CCN2 exhibits a prevalence of masculinized flowers. Aiming to study the incidence and phenotypical implications of this mutation, CCN2 plants were deeply studied using Criolla Chica ‘Ballista’ (CCBA) as control plants. For each CCN2 plant, two inflorescences per shoot were sampled and segmented into proximal, mid and distal positions, relative to the pedicel. Flowers were observed through magnifying lens and classified according to OIV151 descriptor.

Proanthocyanidins are important phenolic fraction for wine quality, contributing to astringency, bitterness and color. Their metabolism begins in the mouth and continues throughout the gastrointestinal tract; however, most of them are accumulated in the colon where are metabolized by the intestinal microbiota, giving rise to a whole series of phenolic acids that may have greater activity at physiological level than the precursors[1]. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the bioaccessibility of proanthocyanidins in a red wine developed by Bodegas Pradorey, as well as to evaluate the potential effect of intestinal microbiota on polyphenols metabolism identifying and quantifying secondary metabolites.

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a secondary wine fermentation conducted by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This fermentation is important in winemaking as it deacidifies the wine, converting L-malic acid into L-lactic acid and carbon dioxide, and it contributes to microbial stability. Wine pH is highly selective, and at pH below 3.5 generally only strains of O. oeni can survive and express malolactic activity, while under more favorable growth conditions above pH 3.5, species of Lactobacillus and Pediococcus may conduct the MLF. Among the LAB species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains have shown most interesting results under hot climate conditions, not only for their capacity to induce MLF, but also for their homo-fermentative properties towards hexose sugars, which makes them suitable for induction of MLF in high pH and high alcohol wines, when inoculated at the beginning of alcoholic fermentation.