Context and purpose of the study. The wine industries face significant challenges from two highly detrimental viruses: leafroll and red blotch.
Botrytis cinerea, an Ascomycota pathogen with a broad host range, infects over 1200 plant species. Grapes infected by this pathogen, which subsequently develop a noble rot, remain in the vineyard for an extended period, thus being exposed to a diverse array of physical, chemical and biological factors, which give rise to a complex microbial community.
Context and purpose of the study. Red Blotch disease, an affliction caused by the Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV), represents a formidable challenge for grape growers and winemakers in prominent viticultural regions around the world.
The postharvest dehydration of grapes is a traditional practice to obtain wines with unique traits (e.g., sweet, dry/reinforced).
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts an increase in global temperature and a decrease in relative humidity (RH) in the coming decades, which may have implications for berry ripening and composition.
Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch), a monophagous pest of the grapevine, induces nodosities on the roots through its sap-sucking activity.
Climate change projections point to an increase of temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns in the mediterranean region.
Viticulture is a key economic sector in the mediterranean region. However, climate change is affecting global viticulture, increasing the frequency of heatwaves and drought events.
Grapevine naturally endures stresses like heat, drought, and hypoxia. A recent study showed very low oxygen levels inside grape berries, linked to ethanol content.
Increasingly pronounced climate changes, including prolonged drought periods, pose a significant challenge to the cultivation of table grape varieties.
Drought events can strongly affect grapevine and berry physiology and subsequent wine quality, as widely demonstrated in controlled experiments.
Context and purpose of the study. Leaf osmotic adjustment (i.e., active accumulation of osmolytes in the cells) has been reported in grapevines in response to drought and as a natural process throughout the growing season (seasonal osmotic adjustment).
Most of the rootstocks used in viticulture today are partly resistant against grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) and host phylloxera on the root system without conspicuous negative impacts on fruit production).
Context and purpose of the study. Climate change is affecting wine production and induces a large variability in wine composition between vintages.
Shrinking berries are the common symptoms of Berry Shrivel (BS) and Late-Season-Dehydration (LSD) in grapevine cultivars.
It is known that high temperature influences the synthesis, transformation and degradation of grape anthocyanin (ANT) threatening the quality of grapes and coloured wines.
Studies suggest that ethanol (EtOH), triggers plant adaptation to various stresses at low concentrations (10 µM to 10 mM).
Context and purpose of the study. Cultivation techniques are widely recognized for their significant impact on the aroma profile of grapes and wines.