Sustainable Soil Management: Effects of Clinoptilolite and Organic Compost Soil Application on Eco-Physiology, Quercitin, and Hydroxylated, Methoxylated Anthocyanins on Vitis vinifera

Abstract

Climate change and compostinS1g methods have an important junction on the phenological and ripening grapevine phases. Moreover, the optimization of these composting methods in closed-loop corporate chains can skillfully address the waste problem (pomace, stalks, and pruning residues) in viticultural areas. Owing to the ongoing global warming, in many wine-growing regions, there has been unbalanced ripening, with tricky harvests. Excessive temperatures in fact impoverish the anthocyanin amount of the must while the serious water deficits do not allow a correct development of the berry, stopping its growth processes. This experiment was created to improve the soil management and the quality of the grapes, through the application of a new land conditioner (Zeowine) to the soil, derived from the compost processes of industrial wine, waste, and zeolite. Three treatments on a Sangiovese vineyard were conducted: Zeowine (ZW) (30 tons per ha), Zeolite (Z) (10 tons per ha), and Compost (C) (20 tons per ha). During the two seasons (2021–2022), measurements were made of single-leaf gas exchange and leaf midday water potential, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence. In addition, the parameters of plant yield, yeast assimilable nitrogen, technological maturity, fractionation of anthocyanins (Cyanidin-3-glucoside, Delphinidin-3-glucoside, Malvidin-3-acetylglucoside, Malvidin-3-cumarylglucoside, Malvidin-3-glucoside, Peonidin-3-acetylglucoside, Peonidin-3-cumarylglucoside, Peonidin-3-glucoside, and Petunidin-3-glucoside), Caffeic Acid, Coumaric Acid, Gallic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, Quercetin-3-O-glucoside, Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide were analyzed. The Zeowine and zeolite showed less negative water potential, higher photosynthesis, and lower leaf temperature. Furthermore, they showed higher levels of anthocyanin accumulation and a lower level of quercetin. Finally, the interaction of the beneficial results of Zeowine (soil and grapevines) was evidenced by the embellishment of the nutritional and water efficiency, the minimizing of the need for fertilizers, the closure of the production cycle of waste material from the supply chain, and the improvement of the quality of the wines.

Effects of Global Warming on Grapevine Berries Phenolic Compounds—A Review

“…Instead, quercetin 3-glucoside (flavonol-glycoside) enhanced with exposure to solar radiation [147]. These results were confirmed by other authors [132,133]; high quantities were found of quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-glucuronide in stressed grapes. Vijay and Vadewki [167], in their experiment on Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, explained the benefit of uncovered clusters to solar light; in treated clusters (leaf removal, cluster thinning, and shoot thinning) higher concentrations of flavan-3-ols (i.e., catechin and epicatechin) and flavonols (i.e., quercetin and myricetin) were found (quercetin accumulation could be a light solar-dependent process).…”

“…This probably happened owing to its ability to be an inert mineral able to reduce canopy surface temperatures as well as being radiation-reflecting. Other authors found an increase in extractable anthocyanins together with a reduction in quercetin forms in plants treated with soil applications of clinoptilolite [132,133]. This could be attributable to the ability of zeolites to mitigate water stress and allow for balanced ripening in extremely dry years.…”

“…Several authors observed an increase in total anthocyanins in grapes of plants subjected to water stress [130,131]. However, it was recently observed that an excess of water stress (associated with heatwaves; 35 • C) led to the reduction in extractable anthocyanins in the must and to an increase in quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-glucuronide [132,133]. An interesting experiment showed two types of berry responses to drought stress: (I) indirect and positive action on phenolic compounds concentration owing to berry size reduction; (II) direct effect on biosynthesis that can be positive or negative depending on the phenolic compound type, application period, and severity of drought [134].…”

The Response of Endogenous ABA and Soluble Sugars of Platycladus orientalis to Drought and Post-Drought Rehydration

“…When drought stress occurs, plants exhibit an inherent ability to adapt to this water-deficient environment through various regulatory mechanisms. The repercussions of drought stress on plants can be evaluated by monitoring physiological or biochemical indicators [ 9 ]. The enhancement of photosynthetic physiological performance facilitates the accumulation of organic matter in plants [ 10 ].…”