Anti-Transpirant Effects on Vine Physiology, Berry and Wine Composition of cv. Aglianico (Vitis vinifera L.) Grown in South Italy

Abstract

In viticulture, global warming requires reconsideration of current production models. At the base of this need there are some emerging phenomena: modification of phenological phases; acceleration of the maturation process of grapes, with significant increases in the concentration of sugar musts; decoupling between technological grape maturity and phenolic maturity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a natural anti-transpirant on grapevine physiology, berry, and wine composition of Aglianico cultivar. For two years, Aglianico vines were treated at veraison with the anti-transpirant Vapor Gard and compared with a control sprayed with only water. A bunch thinning was also applied to both treatments. The effectiveness of Vapor Gard were assessed through measurements of net photosynthesis and transpiration and analyzing the vegetative, productive and qualitative parameters. The results demonstrate that the application of anti-transpirant reduced assimilation and transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, berry sugar accumulation, and wine alcohol content. No significant differences between treatments were observed for other berry and wine compositional parameters. This method may be a useful tool to reduce berry sugar content and to produce wines with a lower alcohol content.

Application of Anti-Transpirant to Control Sugar Accumulation in Grape Berries and Alcohol Degree in Wines Obtained from Thinned and Unthinned Vines of cv. Falanghina (Vitis vinifera L.)

“…In both treatments, the percentage of reduction of leaf assimilation rate was about 47.8 in percentage. As expected, in both growing These results show that the film-forming anti-transpirant is able to active a transient inhibition of leaf photosynthetic rate confirming the findings obtained on other grape cultivars, such as Sangiovese [13,14,18], Barbera [21], Sauvignon blanc [2] and Aglianico [22]. Similar results were obtained regarding the leaf assimilation rate (A).…”

“…The exchanges of the gas were measured onto 10 mature leaves (10-12 node position) as reported by Di Vaio et al [22]. Measuring of stomatal conductance (gs) was done six times, about every 12 days, after VG application, from three days after spray treatments until harvest while the measuring of assimilation (A) and transpiration (E) were carried out at harvest.…”

“…The significant differences identified among the two growing seasons especially in terms of stomatal conductance must be correlated with the lasting of the treatment and its effect, which indeed depend on the weather, referring in particular to rainfalls after the product has been applied. Di Vaio et al [22] reported the trend of average monthly temperatures and rainfalls recorded in the same farm in Guardia Sanframondi during the same growing seasons. Their results showed similar temperatures but evident differences in terms of rainfalls between 2013 and 2014.…”

“…Recently, Fahey and Rogiers [19] demonstrated that di-1-p-menthene decreased water loss in both the leaf and the bunch, and is effective at 30 • C and 35 • C. Furthermore, it did not cause fruit abortion (fruit drop). Nowadays, most studies dealing with the use of film-forming anti-transpirant to grape ripening have been implemented on red cultivars, such as Cabernet Sauvignon [20], Sangiovese [13,18], Barbera [21] and Aglianico [22]. To the authors' best knowledge, only Lucchetta and collaborators [2] used this technique on a white grapevine variety, Sauvignon blanc, emphasising the need to study physiological and chemical effects of antitranspirant molecules on other white grapes.…”

Viticulture and Winemaking under Climate Change

“…Other studies apply crop modeling to better understand the impact of climate change on grapevines [4,17,18]. Furthermore, this special issue contains articles devoted to improving water use efficiency [19] and the effect of a natural anti-transpirant on grapevines [20]. Additionally, another study makes use of reflectance indices to assess vine water status [21].…”