Terroir 1996 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Caratteristiche fisico-chimiche dei suoli coltivati a vite e loro influenza nella diffusione del mal dell’esca

Caratteristiche fisico-chimiche dei suoli coltivati a vite e loro influenza nella diffusione del mal dell’esca

Abstract

[English version below]

Il mal dell’esca é una malattia della vite della quale sono state studiate sintomatologia, eziologia, patogenesi ed epidemiologia. Essendo una malattia che colpisce soprattutto la parte epigea delle piante, le caratteristiche dei suoli non sono mai state considerate fra le responsabili della sua insorgenza e diffusione. In questo lavoro abbiamo studiato suoli di vigneti in cui il mal dell ‘esca présenta un ‘elevata incidenza e suoli di vigneti dove tale incidenza è scarsa o nulla. Le osservazioni morfologiche ed i risultati analitici indicano che i vigneti più danneggiati dalla malattia sono quelli i cui suoli presentano condizioni idromorfe a minima profondità, fra i 35 ed i 65 cm. Al contrario, i terreni dove l’incidenza é scarsa non presentano segni di idromorfia.
La difficoltà di percolazione, con conseguente instaurarsi di condizioni asfittiche, può essere imputata a due cause: 1) diminuzione di porosità totale negli orizzonti inferiori e 2) preponderante presenza di microporosità dovuta all’eccessivo contenuto di argilla e limo (dal 48 al 76%). Inoltre, l’argilla è costituita da minerali in grado di espandersi in presenza di acqua e, quindi, di rallentare ulteriormente il drenaggio del suolo. Al tri fattori che favoriscono la formazione di orizzonti asfittici sono: 1) i bassi tenori di carbonio organico non sufficienti a prevenire la migrazione dell ‘argilla; 2) la scarsa efficienza delle opere di drenaggio e 3) le lavorazioni meccaniche. Nei suoli ben drenati il contenuto di argilla e limo non supera il 45%, i minerali a reticolo espandibile sono presenti in tracce e, di conseguenza, non vi sono difficoltà di percolazione. Dalle nostre osservazioni risulta quindi che i vigneti maggiormente soggetti al mal dell ‘esca sono quelli che tendono a sviluppare condizioni di scarso drenaggio.

Studies have been conducted on the symptomatology, aetiology, pathogenesis and epidemic of the esca, a disease that affects grapes. Since Esca attacks mostly the above ground parts of the plants, the soil has not been considered relevant in the development and spreading of this disease. In this work we have investigated vineyard soils with a high incidence of esca, and others with a low or no incidence. Our morphological observations and analyses have shown that those vineyard affected by esca also manifest poorly drained conditions at a depth of about 35-65 cm. On the contrary the soils where the occurrence of the disease is less manifested are well drained.
The irnpeded drainage, with the attendant unoxy conditions, can be attributed to two causes: 1) a decreasing porosity in the lower horizons and 2) the prevailing micro porosity due to the high content of clay and silt (from 48 to 76%). Moreover, the clay is made of minerals that, once hydrated, tend to expand, further reducing the porosity and, thus, the drainage. Others factors that additionally cause a deterioration of the drainage are 1) the low organic matter content that prevent aggregation; 2) the inadequate drainage structures and 3) the continuous mechanical operations. In the well-drained soils the clay plus silt content is always less than 45%, the expandable minerals are presence in traces and, hence, there are not limitations to impede the drainage. We conclude that the vineyards more vulnerable to the esca are those painted on soils which tend to develop poorly drained conditions.

DOI:

Publication date: March 2, 2022

Issue: Terroir 1998

Type: Article

Authors

GIUSEPPE CORTI, FIORENZO C. UGOLINI, ROSANNA CUNIGLIO

Dipartimento di Scienza del Suolo e Nutrizione della Pianta
Piazzale delle Cascine, 15 – 50144 Firenze

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 1998

Citation

Related articles…

Local adaptation tools to ensure the viticultural sustainability in a changing climate

[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"...

Combining effect of leaf removal and natural shading on grape ripening under two irrigation strategies in Manto negro (Vitis vinifera L.)

The increasingly frequent heat waves during grape ripening pose challenges for high quality wine grape production. Defoliation is a common practice that can improve the control of diseases in bunches, but also it increases the exposure to sunlight. Grapes exposed to solar radiation reach temperatures over the optimum for berry development and maturation. This makes the development of irrigation and canopy management techniques of great importance to maximize yield and grape quality. A field experiment was carried out during 2021 using Manto negro wine grapes to study the effect of applied irrigation and different light exposure levels on grape quality. Two irrigation treatments were imposed based on the frequency and amount of water doses in a four-block experimental vineyard at Bodega Ribas (Mallorca). Three light exposure treatments were randomly applied in each irrigation plot. The light treatments included exposed clusters from pea size, non-exposed clusters, and shaded clusters after softening. Leaf area index and canopy porosity was estimated every 2 weeks. Midday leaf water potential was measured weekly. Additionally, apparent electrical conductivity was measured between rows to estimate the soil water content variability. Light and temperature sensors were installed at the bunch level to quantify the differences in bunch temperature and light intensity among treatments. The effect of irrigation and cluster light exposure on berry weight, TSS, TA, malic acid, tartaric acid, K+, and pH were analysed at 5 moments along grape ripening. During different heat waves, the natural shading technique decreased the maximum bunch temperature around 10 °C respect to the exposed bunches in both irrigation strategies. The combination of defoliation and shading techniques after softening decreased TSS at harvest and affected most of the quality parameters during the last stages of ripening, showing an interesting technique to delay ripening in warm viticulture areas.

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.

From a local to an international scale: sensory benchmarking of PDO wines. Quincy and Reuilly PDO wines (Sauvignon blanc) as a case study (France)

In a collective marketing strategy, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) can be used as a quality indicator. To highlight terroir specificities, it is useful to know how the wines are positioned on the local, national or international market from a sensory point of view. This is especially true for a comparison of varietal wines (e.g. Sauvignon blanc). We focus on the case of two closed Loire Valley PDO (France): Quincy and Reuilly. Three distinct tastings were organized. Firstly, at the local level comparing the 2 PDO (11 and 9 wines, 17 professional assessors); secondly at a regional level adding 3 closed PDO: Menetou-Salon, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (3 wines per PDO, 16 assessors) and thirdly at an international level comparing these 5 PDO with Sauvignon Blanc wines coming from South Africa, New Zealand and Chile (1 to 3 wines per PDO, 19 assessors). All the wines were from the 2019 vintage and were considered to have a traditional elaboration process without contact with oak. A sensory descriptive analysis was performed using an aroma wheel allowing to combine a Check-All-That-Apply methodology, often used in sensory benchmarking, with a hierarchical structuration of the attributes. The aim is to facilitate data acquisition in a professional context without common training, to consider the hierarchical relationships among the attributes during the data analysis and to be able to characterize wines with a large range of sensorial variability. We use univariate, multivariate and clustering analyses. Similarities and differences between Quincy and Reuilly PDO wines and other Sauvignon blanc wines were identified. Specific attributes can distinguish the two PDO and different proximities exist with other local PDO, while clear differences were observed compared to international wines. Our study contributes to propose and discuss a method to do a wine sensory benchmarking highlighting sensory specificities linked to origin.

Analysis of some environmental factors and cultural practices that affect the production and quality of the Manto Negro, Callet and Prensal Blanc varieties

45 non irrigated vineyards distributed in the DO (Denomination) Pla i Llevant de Mallorca and the DO Binissalem Mallorca were used to investigate the characteristics of production and quality and their relationships certain environmental factors and cultural practices. The grape varieties investigated are autochthonous to the island of Mallorca, Manto Negro and Callet as red and Prensal Blanc as white. All plants were measured for four consecutive years in the main production and quality parameters. Among the environmental factors, the type of soil has been studied, more specifically its water retention capacity, the planting density, the age of the vineyard and the level of viral infection. The presence or absence of virus seems to have no effect on any component studied in the varieties studied. For the white variety Prensal Blanc age is negatively correlated with production and the number of bunches, nevertheless it does not cause any effect on the required quality parameters. However, for the red varieties Callet and Manto Negro, the age of the plantation is the variable that best correlates with the quality parameters, therefore the old vines should be the object of preservation by the viticulturists and winemakers in order to guarantee its contribution to the quality of the wines made with these varieties.