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.)

Abstract

In the last few decades, the accumulation of sugar in grape berries and hence the alcohol degree of wines has been affected by increasing global temperatures. In order to limit plant photosynthetic activity, it is possible to apply anti-transpirant on field, reducing sugar accumulation in berries. In this contest, our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of the application of a di-1-p-menthene-based natural anti-transpirant (Vapor Gard®, VG) on Falanghina vines during 2013 and 2014. Plants were treated at veraison stage with VG and compared with water-sprayed ones for control. The experimental design included also bunch thinned (BT) plants treated with VG or water. The effect of VG and/or BT on grapes was evaluated through physiological measurements on vines and chemical analyses on berries and wines. Moreover, wine sensory profiles were produced. The results we obtained show that by applying anti-transpirant it is possible to induce a significant reduction of net photosynthesis rate (25%–40%) and stomatal conductance (40%–60%) on leaves, a lower sugar accumulation in berries (2 °Brix) and a consequent reduction of alcohol in the obtained wine (0.9%–1.6% vol.). These results suggest that anti-transpirant sprays could be a useful tool in reducing cost of yield manipulation, improving ripeness and reducing wine alcohol, without affecting the wine sensory profile.

Mitigation of High-Temperature Damage by Application of Kaolin and Pinolene on Young Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.): A Preliminary Experiment to Assess Biometric, Eco-Physiological and Nutraceutical Parameters

“…During the vegetative season in July, K applications showed an increase in stomatal conductance (0.56 mol −2 s −1 ), but at the end of the vegetative season, all three treatments showed low conductance values, in particular K, which was statistically different from C with a reduction of 3.70%. Similar results have also been observed by Di Vaio et al [38,39] on "Aglianico" and "Falanghina" (Vitis Vinifera L.), where a product based on 1-p-menthene significantly reduced the stomatal conductance and assimilation rate. Stomatal conductance usually decreases at high temperatures; however, this result is probably due to leaf water deficit or large leaf-to-air water vapor concentration differences generated by high temperature [40,41].…”

Integrative analysis of metabolome and transcriptome profiles to highlight aroma determinants in Aglianico and Falanghina grape berries

“…Falanghina berries are mainly used to make dry white wines highly appreciated for their intense fruity scent with some floral and herbaceous notes [ 6 , 37 , 38 ]. In our study, the predominant metabolic class in ripening berries of Falanghina has been represented by GLVs at both transcriptomic and metabolomic levels, with a high number of up-accumulated compounds in pulp rather than skin.…”

Investigating the impact of pedoclimatic conditions on the oenological performance of two red cultivars grown throughout southern Italy

“…It is best illustrated by the concept of “terroir”, which encompasses the combined influences of varietal attributes, climate, soil conditions, winemaking practices, and the multitude of interactions among them ( Bonfante and Brillante, 2022 ). Previous investigations showed a high level of differentiation among vineyards based on the varieties cultivated or by their area of provenance ( Anesi et al., 2015 ; Paim Pinto et al., 2016 ; Xie et al., 2017 ; Dal Santo et al., 2018 ; Di Vaio et al., 2020 ). Concerning the varieties, a differentiation can be considered between international and indigenous ones.…”