Canopy-Applied Benzothiadiazole (BTH) during the Pre-Harvest Period as a Tool to Increase Polyphenol Accumulation and Color Intensity in Cabernet Gernischt and Cabernet Franc

Abstract

Despite the wealth of studies on benzothiadiazole (BTH) and its capacity to modulate grape polyphenol metabolism, comprehensive data detailing polyphenol accumulation at various grape growth stages remain scarce. Therefore, the present study utilized pre-harvest (at 21 days after flowering) canopy-applied BTH (50 mg/L) on Cabernet Gernischt and Cabernet Franc grapes to investigate the physicochemical and polyphenolic changes during grape maturation. The results showed that BTH treatment significantly affected the accumulation of total phenols, flavonoids, flavanols, anthocyanins, and tannins. Concurrently, it induced an increase in colorimetric parameters (CIRG, L*, b*, a*, and C*ab), resulting in the treated grapes exhibiting a greater color intensity and enhanced red-bluish colorimetric characteristics. Moreover, the BTH treatment amplified the anthocyanin content in the grapes, with the levels of petunidin-3-O-glucoside and peonidin-3-O-glucoside exhibiting remarkable increases, particularly in the Cabernet Franc grape. Notably, the content of peonidin-3-O-glucoside even surpassed that of malvidin-3-O-glucoside throughout the growth stages, indicating significant advantages in the treated samples. Additionally, the levels of flavanol, flavonols, phenolic acids, and stilbenes experienced a significant boost post-treatment. In conclusion, the application of BTH treatment can effectively enhance the accumulation of polyphenols and intensify the color of Cabernet Gernischt and Cabernet Franc grapes, thereby significantly improving the overall quality of wine grapes and ensuring the production of higher-quality wines. The research findings will serve as a theoretical foundation and provide scientific data for the appropriate utilization of BTH in wine grape cultivation.