terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Second pruning as a strategy to delay maturation in cv. ‘Touriga nacional’ in the Portuguese Douro region

Second pruning as a strategy to delay maturation in cv. ‘Touriga nacional’ in the Portuguese Douro region

Abstract

The advance in maturation of wine grapes is an important climate change risk related effect that could affect warm regions like Portuguese Douro Wine Region. Indeed, the climate analysis over the past years registered a decrease in the precipitation, significant higher average temperatures, and a more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events, including heat waves. In these conditions the length from anthesis until maturation is shortened and the uncoupling of technical and phenolic maturity results in berries with higher sugar concentration (and lower acidity), but lower anthocyanins, tannins, and total phenolic concentration, which produce unbalanced wines.
In this work, an innovative strategy of crop forcing, based on forcing vine regrowth after a second pruning of green shoots, was tested, aimed at delaying ripening until the temperature becomes lower and, therefore, preventing acidity loss and increasing anthocyanin-to-sugar ratio. The experiments were conducted in 2019 and 2020 in a commercial vineyard of ‘Touriga Nacional’ located in the Douro Region. Crop forcing was conducted 15 (CF1) to 30 (CF2) days after fruit set. Vines pruned with conventional methods were used as control (CF0). Results confirmed that fruit ripening was shifted from the hot season (August/September), until a cooler period (October through early-November). At harvest, grapevine berries from CF1 and CF2 presented lower pH and higher acidity, than control, with no significant differences in colour intensity and phenolic levels composition. Sugar content was lower in CF2-treated vines in both seasons. However, in CF-treated vines the number and size of clusters were significantly lower (up to 88% reduction) than in control plants. A metabolomics analysis of mature berries from CF-treated vines and control is underway. Crop forcing was indeed effective in producing a more balance berry composition but severely reduced grapevine yield,

 

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: May 31, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Inês L. Cabral1, António Teixeira3, Joana Valente2, Fernando Alves2, Frank S. Rogerson2, Susana M.P. Carvalho1, Hernâni Gerós3 and Jorge Queiroz1

1GreenUPorto – Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre / Inov4Agro, DGAOT, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
2Symington Family Estates, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
3Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), Department of Biological Engineering, Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Contact the author

Keywords

berry composition, climate change, fruit ripening, grapevine, yield

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Etude des effets millésime, situation et sol à partir d’un observatoire du Gamay en beaujolais

Des expérimentations sur Gamay ont été réalisées en Beaujolais de 2000 à 2006 sur 10 parcelles d’AOC différentes. De nombreuses mesures ont été effectuées à différents stades (vigne, baies récoltées, vinification et bouteille avec ou sans vieillissement). Ces mesures sont également de natures différentes (données phénologiques, analytiques, dégustation). Des analyses de la composition des sols sont également disponibles.

Read More

Valuation of the fields viti-vinicoles by the landscapes

La prise en compte des paysages viticoles dans le développement durable ou l’aménagement du territoire est un thème non négligeable pour la valorisation de la filière viti-vinicole à l’échelle d’une exploitation ou d’une A.O.C.

Read More

Grape development revisited through the single-berry metabolomic clock paradigm

Although the ripening process of grapevine berries is well-documented at the vineyard level, pinpointing distinct developmental stages remains challenging. The asynchronous development of berries results in dynamic biases and metabolic chimerism. It is thus crucial to consider individual berries separately and resynchronize their internal clock for deciphering physiological changes throughout development. Given the importance of grape composition in wine quality, we aimed at measuring developmental changes in the metabolome of Syrah single berries from anthesis to over-ripening, without a priori preconceived.

Read More

Predatory Arthropods associated with potential locally-adapted native insectary plants for Australian vineyards

Three locally-adapted native plants were evaluated to determine their capacity to provide insectary benefits to predatory arthropods in association with vineyards, and thereby to enhance biological control of insect pests. Native plants are preferred as supplementary flora, as they are naturally adapted to Australia’s climatic conditions.

Read More

La place du terroir dans le processus de patrimonialisation : l’exemple des paysages culturels viticoles du patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco

Eleven wine-growing sites are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Cultural Landscapes. If the viticultural character of these sites constitutes the main argument for the demonstration of their heritage value, the terroir and its biophysical and environmental characteristics tend however to appear in a minor mode compared to the aesthetic and cultural dimensions. In other words, the “specific characteristics of the soil, topography, climate, landscape and biodiversity” (OIV definition) are most often used as descriptive elements in the presentation of the sites, but it is more the aesthetic, historical,

Read More