Berry primary and secondary metabolites in response to sunlight and temperature in the grapevine fruit zone

Alain Deloire,Guillaume Antalick,Anne Pellegrino,Suzy Rogiers

doi:10.20870/ives-tr.2020.4498

Abstract

The chemical composition of berries at harvest, which will affect wine styles, is determined by complex physiological processes occurring from set through the fruit’s lifetime to maturity, and this is closely intertwined with environmental and crop management factors. Among those factors, climatic conditions within the fruit zone (i.e. microclimate), such as light and temperature, are well-known to aﬀect the physiology of the fruit at the skin, pulp and seed levels. This article will present the potential of leaf thinning in the bunch zone to modify cluster microclimate and berry composition.

Highlights

Vineyards can face significant variation of abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, water, wind and air humidity depending on: è topography è row orientation è planting density è training x pruning systems è canopy size/volume: height and density Spatial variability in soil characteristics should be considered as it determines root architecture and the water and nutrient assimilation by the plant
The literature is often controversial about the effect of sunlight on fruit primary and secondary metabolite accumulation or degradation
The response of leaf removal on grape composition is highly dependent on other biotic and abiotic factors, but some general trends can be highlighted

Summary

Introduction

Vineyards can face significant variation of abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, water, wind and air humidity depending on: è topography è row orientation è planting density è training x pruning systems è canopy size/volume: height and density Spatial variability in soil characteristics (depth, structure, composition and texture) should be considered as it determines root architecture and the water and nutrient assimilation by the plant. The literature is often controversial about the effect of sunlight (exposed versus shaded berries) on fruit primary and secondary metabolite accumulation or degradation. When studying sunlight effects on berry composition, the external and internal faces of the cluster (i.e., facing the inter-row or the canopy) should be considered.

Results

Conclusion