Austrian Vineyards Research Articles

Efficacy evaluation of particle films as oviposition deterrent against <i>Drosophila suzukii</i> in Austrian vineyards

Efficacy evaluation of particle films as oviposition deterrent against <i>Drosophila suzukii</i> in Austrian vineyards

Inter-Row Management and Clay Content Influence Acari and Collembola Abundances in Vineyards

Viticulture is a perennial cropping system that provides large inter-row space as a non-crop habitat for a range of different taxa. Extensive vegetation management has been shown to increase biodiversity and ecosystem service provision in vineyards. Important soil ecosystem services are decomposition, nutrient cycling, and pest regulation provided by the mesofauna (e.g., Acari and Collembola). However, studies investigating the effects of inter-row management on soil mesofauna are scarce. We studied the effect of inter-row management intensity (complete vegetation cover, alternating vegetation cover, and bare ground) and local pedoclimatic conditions on Acari and Collembola in nine Austrian vineyards. Our results showed that the clay content of the soil was the most important factor and increased the abundances of both analyzed taxa. Complete and alternating vegetation cover increased their abundance in comparison to bare ground management. Higher soil respiration slightly contributed to higher abundances of those two taxa in both years. In conclusion, besides the positive effects of the clay content in the soil, complete and alternating vegetation cover are feasible management practices for increasing soil mesofauna in vineyards.

Effects of Ground Cover Management, Landscape Elements and Local Conditions on Carabid (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Diversity and Vine Vitality in Temperate Vineyards

Sustainable vineyard management in inter-rows may improve biodiversity and ecosystem service provision in landscapes with a high density of vineyards. The current work investigates the effect of three inter-row ground cover treatments (bare soil by tillage, alternating and complete vegetation cover) on carabid beetle communities and vine vitality, in relation to climatic, soil and landscape parameters. Pitfall traps were used to collect carabids in the spring and autumn of 2016 from nine Austrian vineyards, with all three ground cover treatments established in each vineyard. Additionally, grape berry samples were collected before harvest in order to determine juice quality parameters. Generalized linear mixed models revealed that complete vegetation cover, the most extensive vineyard inter-row management, decreased both carabid density and species richness. The variables hours of sunshine, vineyard cover at the landscape scale and mesofauna abundance had negative impacts on species richness. The largest differentiator of carabid communities was the sampling timepoint, and we observed clustering associated to vineyard manager, whereas ground cover treatment played no significant role. The importance of treatment on vine vitality parameters was low; however, complete vegetation cover was detrimental to vine vegetative growth and berry weight. On the basis of our results, we conclude that although community composition may be influenced by pedo-climatic conditions and landscape components, alternating vegetation cover is an option for maintaining both carabid diversity and high-quality berries in vineyards.

Organic Farming and Cover-Crop Management Reduce Pest Predation in Austrian Vineyards.

Simple SummaryGlobal declines in arthropods necessitate a rethinking of current agricultural practices. Organic farming, complex landscapes with high proportions of seminatural habitats and local vineyard management practices such as implementation of flower-rich cover-crop mixtures may be a promising approach to enhance arthropod biodiversity and, thus, natural pest control in viticulture. We examined effects of organic farming, different types of vineyard inter-row vegetation, and landscape composition on natural pest control of a major grapevine pest, the grape berry moth Lobesia botrana, and identified its dominant natural enemies. Surprisingly, natural pest control was reduced by sown cover-crops and organic farming. Interestingly, bush crickets were one of the most dominant natural enemies in the Austrian study region. Negative effects of organic farming in our study are most likely related to high fungicide inputs. Thus, a promising approach to reduce fungicide input and, therefore, promote a more sustainable viticulture may be the implementation of fungus-resistant grape varieties.Habitat simplification and intensive use of pesticides are main drivers of global arthropod declines and are, thus, decreasing natural pest control. Organic farming, complex landscapes, and local vineyard management practices such as implementation of flower-rich cover-crop mixtures may be a promising approach to enhance predator abundance and, therefore, natural pest control. We examined the effect of organic versus integrated management, cover-crop diversity in the vineyard inter-rows, and landscape composition on the natural pest control of Lobesia botrana eggs and pupae. Predation of L. botrana pupae was reduced by organic farming and species-poor cover-crops by about 10%. Predation rates of L. botrana eggs did not differ significantly in any of the studied management options. Dominant predators were earwigs (Forficulidae), bush crickets (Tettigoniidae), and ants (Formicidae). Negative effects of organic viticulture are most likely related to the negative nontarget effects on arthropods related to the frequent sulfur and copper applications in combination with the avoidance of strongly damaging insecticides by integrated winegrowers. While a 10% difference in predation rates on a single pest stage is unlikely to have strong practical implications, our results show that the assumed effectiveness of environmentally friendly agriculture needs to be evaluated for specific crops and regions.

Unexpected Effects of Local Management and Landscape Composition on Predatory Mites and Their Food Resources in Vineyards.

Simple SummarySustainable agriculture becomes more important for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. Viticulture is characterized by relatively high pesticide inputs, which could decrease arthropod populations and biological pest control in vineyards. This problem could be counteracted with management practices such as the implementation of diverse vegetation cover in the vineyard inter-rows, reduced pesticide input in integrated or organic vineyards, and a diverse landscape with trees and hedges. We examined the influence of these factors on predatory mites, which play a crucial role as natural enemies for pest mites on vines, and pollen as important alternative food source for predatory mites in 32 organic and integrated Austrian vineyards. Predatory mites benefited from integrated pesticide management and spontaneous vegetation cover in vineyard inter-rows. Pest mite populations were very low and sometimes completely absent on vines. This showed that agri-environmental schemes should consider less intensive pesticide use and spontaneous vegetation cover in the vineyard inter-row due to the beneficial effect on predatory mite populations and their related biological control potential in vineyards.Viticultural practices and landscape composition are the main drivers influencing biological pest control in vineyards. Predatory mites, mainly phytoseiid (Phytoseiidae) and tydeoid mites (Tydeidae), are important to control phytophagous mites (Tetranychidae and Eriophyidae) on vines. In the absence of arthropod prey, pollen is an important food source for predatory mites. In 32 paired vineyards located in Burgenland/Austria, we examined the effect of landscape composition, management type (organic/integrated), pesticide use, and cover crop diversity of the inter-row on the densities of phytoseiid, tydeoid, and phytophagous mites. In addition, we sampled pollen on vine leaves. Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten was the main phytoseiid mite species and Tydeus goetzi Schruft the main tydeoid species. Interestingly, the area-related acute pesticide toxicity loading was higher in organic than in integrated vineyards. The densities of phytoseiid and tydeoid mites was higher in integrated vineyards and in vineyards with spontaneous vegetation. Their population also profited from an increased viticultural area at the landscape scale. Eriophyoid mite densities were extremely low across all vineyards and spider mites were absent. Biological pest control of phytophagous mites benefits from less intensive pesticide use and spontaneous vegetation cover in vineyard inter-rows, which should be considered in agri-environmental schemes.

Survival and viability of ascospores of Erysiphe necator in Austrian vineyards

Grape powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator is a limiting factor in grape production. In order to develop effective management strategies, the factors influencing the survival of the fungus need to be identified and characterized accordingly. For this purpose, we focused on the effect of weather conditions during overwintering on the survival and viability of ascospores. In spring 2017 and 2018, grape leaf litter and bark samples were collected and examined to determine the density of chasmothecia and the viability of ascospores in various Austrian vine growing regions. There were obvious differences in the amounts of chasmothecia between both years and all examined vineyards. Lower quantities of chasmothecia were detected on the exfoliating bark compared to leaf litter, with up to 37% of chasmothecia containing viable ascospores. In comparison, chasmothecia from leaf litter showed a lower viability (up to 5%). The number of viable ascospores per head of vine ranged from 0 to 351 and from 0 to 251 in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and showed partly a strong variation within one location in both years. The infectivity of ascospores on detached leaves was confirmed. In a survival experiment, chasmothecia, when incubated at 7 °C, released more viable ascospores than chasmothecia incubated at 17 °C. After an incubation period of 30 weeks, only chasmothecia stored at the lower temperature contained viable ascospores. However, the mean temperature differences of 0.1 to 1.2 °C during the period of formation of chasmothecia to bud break in both years and six investigated areas did not explain differences in the viability of the ascospores. Differences in vineyard management seem to be of particular importance here.

Image of Excellence – Developing Wine Maps for Austria

Abstract. The Austrian wine industry made the fundamental decision to intensify the marketing of Austrian wine via its origin. Therefore, the creation of protected wines of origin has once again become the focus of interest. Since the marketing of Austrian wine through vineyard designations is increasing every year, it is necessary to present Austria's vineyards in an informative way in order to bring the special features of the protected geographical origin of Austrian quality wines closer to the consumer. The comprehensive, precise and professional acquisition as well as appealing geographic map design of vineyards for different demands, tasks and presentations is widely seen as a conceptual framework for the dissemination of wine relevant issues.Under this assumption, a collaboration project between representatives of the wine industry and academia came into being. Developing Wine Maps for Austria is an embedded research and development project with the aim of conceiving a functional as well as user-centered geographic communication portal of all Austrian vineyards to record, represent and communicate relevant factors dealing with wine and their spatial-temporal characteristics. The Austrian Wine Marketing Company (ÖWM Österreich Wein Marketing GmbH) commissioned the project in cooperation with the University of Vienna, Department of Geography and Regional Research and the Technical Office for Landscape Planning plan+land, Artner & Tomasits OG in order to promote the creation of protected wines of origin as well as to explore new horizons of geo-communication.The project aims to establish a web portal that visualizes and disseminates information on Austrian vineyards in an effective and appealing way. Thus also communicating additional information to accentuate on wine specific features within a defined geographic entity. The goal is to play a pioneering role in the presentation of vineyards and associated products emphasizing in the objective of achieving (cartographic) image of excellence.The presentation will discuss the general conceptual framework clarifying the communication structures and workflow within the system. Thereby explaining the methods and structures based on the defined system architecture. In this context the development and implementation of interfaces for the digital storage and manipulation of all decreed vineyards in Austria will be introduced. These are embedded in a geographical and political hierarchy. This paper will also focus on the prerequisites of wine maps as well as their digital representation with special emphasis on quality assessment and map design. It will compare and discuss currently accessible geo-data sources as well as online applications and finally present an approach to accommodate the described difficulties to facilitate sustainable data caption, creation and design for wine maps that must fulfill the conceptual framework.

Sporadic outbreaks of “flavescence dorée” in Austrian vineyards and the role of Phlogottetix cyclops as a potential vector

Several sporadic outbreaks of “flavescence doree” in the Austrian vineyards have been recorded since 2009. A long-time monitoring of potential vectors and reservoir host plants of the “flavescence doree” phytoplasma (FD) revealed that on some monitoring sites Phlogottetix cyclops is a common insect species on grapevines as well as on Clematis vitalba and Ulmus laevis growing near the vineyards. A high percentage of the captured specimens of P. cyclops harboured 16SrV-C phytoplasmas. Preliminary results showed that this Asian leafhopper could aquire FD from infected C. vitalba, but its ability to transmit the phytoplasma to grapevine still needs to be proven. The possible role of P. cylops for occasional transmission of FD from wild Clematis plants to grapevines is discussed.

Tillage intensity or landscape features: What matters most for wild bee diversity in vineyards?

Vineyard inter-rows can provide habitats for a range of plant and animal species especially when covered with vegetation. However, frequent tillage results in the degradation of habitat quality and the provision of biodiversity-based ecosystem services. Wild bees are important pollinators of crops and wild plants and depend on both, floral resources and suitable nesting sites, which are influenced by the landscape configuration.We examined effects of field and landscape parameters on wild bee species’ richness, abundance and functional traits in Austrian vineyards over two years using Generalised Linear Mixed models, Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Random Forests. Alternating tillage was compared with no tillage in two inter-rows per vineyard. Forage availability in these inter-rows was estimated by flower coverage at each sampling date, and landscape features were analysed within a radius of 750 m around the vineyards.Across all vineyards we found 84 wild bee species with a mean abundance (±SD) of 29 (±16.6). Forage availability had the strongest positive effect on wild bee diversity and abundance. In comparison to no tillage, alternating tillage slightly increased wild bee diversity and abundance. Eusocial wild bees were more abundant in untilled inter-rows, whereas solitary wild bees were more closely associated with alternating tilled vineyards. At the landscape scale, the percentage of artificial areas (mostly villages) and distance to semi-natural elements raised wild bee diversity and abundance. The proportion of woodland increased the abundance of wild bees, in particular of eusocial taxa. Solitary wild bee abundance was enhanced by the number of solitary trees.Pollination provided by wild bees in viticultural areas can be enhanced by maintaining a diversity of different soil management strategies to improve forage availability in vineyards. Furthermore, semi-natural elements such as fallows or solitary trees providing floral resources and nesting habitat should be preserved within viticultural landscapes.

Berry shrivel of grapes in Austria – Aspects of the physiological disorder with cultivar Zweigelt (Vitis vinifera L.)

Berry shrivel (BS) is a physiological disorder of grapevine that affects berry development with decreases in quantity and quality of the crop. The causes of BS are unknown and no treatment exists for prevention or cure. BS seems to occur temporally and spatially at random in vineyards even among and within vines. The detailed description of symptoms and their development is an important step towards the understanding of the molecular background behind BS. Herein symptoms of BS are described with parameters aiming to clearly differentiate between healthy and BS grapes. Analyses were conducted on Vitis vinifera (L.) cv. Zweigelt in 2009/2010 at five Austrian vineyards. Berry diameter and berry deformability were severely reduced by BS, and this effect was observed on whole clusters. BS berries had significantly reduced contents of soluble solids and total anthocyanin concentration 67–73 days after anthesis (DAA), both representing key markers for the early detection of BS clusters. A systemic effect of BS on other no symptoms showing clusters of the same plant could not be observed. Additionally the concentrations of several amino acids in grape juice were affected by BS: thirteen were reduced, two were induced and four did not change significantly.

Influence of Pruning Measures on Recovery of Bois Noir-infected Grapevines

In recent years, visual and analytical observations revealed a significant increase of ‘Bois noir’ (BN) in Austrian vineyards. Removing infected parts by pruning can prevent or reduce spread of the pathogen within the vines. Knowledge about the effect of pruning practices on recovery rates is essential for grapevine growers. Vines showing BN for the first time were visually categorized into classes of symptoms according to disease severity. In the ensuing winter, plants were pollarded 15 cm above the graft union (511 vines), cane pruned (529 vines) or spur pruned (heavy pruning of canes leaving spurs only; 31 vines). Pollarding resulted in significantly higher recovery rates (yearly average 62–84%) in the next growing season and significantly lower recurrence rates in the following years than cane pruning (yearly average 29–49% in the next growing season). Spur pruning was statistically indistinguishable from cane pruning. Our data allowed the conclusion that extensive removal of infected wood is crucial for immediate and persistent success of pruning measures. Recovery was significantly influenced by the severity of BN, by the cultivar and by the observation year. With pollarding treatments, a significant correlation between recovery and plant age was noticed.

The leafhopper and planthopper (Auchenorrhyncha) fauna of three Austrian vineyards

Grapevine yellows are widespread in many viticultural areas of the world. They are spread by insect vectors. In order to search for the potential vectors of the diseases, research was undertaken to identify the leafhopper and planthopper species present in Austrian vineyards. Particular attention was devoted to find H. obsoletus in the vineyard infected with BN/VK in Burgenland and S. titanus in vineyards near the Austrian-Slovenian border. Both vectors and the disease of BN/VK are present in Austria.Regular samplings and checks were taken in three viticultural areas (Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria) during the vegetation period of 2004, between the beginning of May and the end of October. Samples were obtained with yellow sticky boards, suction sampler and occasionally with sweep net from the canopy of grapevine, the undergrowth and the bordering vegetation.The 5186 leafhopper individuals belonging to 87 species of 5 families were collected during our samplings. The most abundant species trapped in the...

Exceptional fermentation characteristics of natural hybrids from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii

In the present article we describe the fermentation characteristics of some novel, natural yeast hybrids (S. cerevisiaexS. kudriavzevii), isolated from Austrian vineyards, and their significance for the aroma spectra of wines they produced. S. cerevisiae, S. bayanus var. uvarum and S. kudriavzevii were used for comparison. Fermentation took place at four different temperatures (14 degrees C, 18 degrees C, 22 degrees C and 26 degrees C) in two grape must varieties, Blauburger and Muskat Ottonell. The fermentation performed by the hybrids occurred more harmoniously than that carried out by the reference yeasts. At any temperature the fermentation rate was in the upper range, especially that of fructose fermentation. Furthermore, the production of ethanol was remarkable. The aroma compositions of wines created by hybrids resemble those of the parental species, but certain aroma constituents (depending on the must) are significantly more concentrated in the hybrid-produced wines. These novel criteria may be advantageous for wine making.

Analysis of the pest risk from Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma to Austrian viticulture

In 2004, Scaphoideus titanus, vector of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma, was first recorded in Austrian vineyards. The absence of the phytoplasma in 2004‐06 was confirmed by molecular analyses of grapevine and vector samples. To estimate the risk to Austrian viticulture a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) was conducted, following the EPPO decision support scheme. The highest risk of introduction arises from the extensive trade in rootstocks and, especially for vineyards located along traffic routes and waterways, from the passive or active spread of the vector. Climate will not limit the establishment of the vector in the large northern Austrian vine‐growing regions of Niederösterreich and Burgenland. At present the probability that the disease and vector become associated is restricted to parts of South Styria. Plant protection practice cannot prevent the establishment and spread of vector populations, especially in sustainable production systems, which forms more than 70% of the total Austrian viticulture area. The possibility for containment or even eradication is given, but requires an early recognition of the vector and disease and the immediate initiation of measures. Otherwise, losses to vine growers, follow‐up costs for eradication and additional efforts in the production of plants would be substantial. Following the assessment, legal measures and recommendations to prevent disease entry and to minimise impacts of established vector populations are considered.

Establishing a plant protection advisory service in Austrian vineyards and apple orchards, based on electronic climate stations 1

In 1995, P.B. Consult established a plant protection advisory service in horticulture and viticulture in Austria. Each client has his own weather station or shares a weather station with another grower nearby. Field monitoring is done using forms and instructions from P.B. Consult, either by staff or by interested growers. For disease forecasts, weather data is collected by telephone on a central computer at 0500 every day. Infection conditions and potential inoculum for weather‐driven diseases like Venturia inaequalis and Plasmopara viticola are evaluated by computer. For Uncinula necator, initial infection can be forecast from field observations indicating the presence of flag shoots (carrying overwintered mildew) or from weather conditions favouring ascospore discharge and germination, then further propagation can be predicted on the basis of temperature. There are no simulation models leading to direct advice for insect pests in horticulture and viticulture but, in some cases (Hoplocampa testudinea, Cydia pomonella), cumulative temperatures and temperature thresholds are good tools for reducing the number of field observations and for fixing the date of field observations.

Headspace Analysis ofVitis vinifera(Vitaceae) Flowers

ABSTRACT Three samples (headspace, essential oil and a dichloromethane extract) of Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) flowers (species “Grüner Veltliner”) were analyzed by GC, GC/FTIR and GC/MS to determine the volatile constituents of this odorous flower from Austrian vineyards. Although more than 30 compounds were identified by these procedures, only the sesquiterpenes valencene, α- and β-farnesene, β-bisabolene, α-humulene, β- and δ-selinene, γ-cadinene and nerolidol as well as 2-tridecanone and benzyl benzoate were considered to be important components of the aroma of the flowers of V. vinifera as determined by a GC-sniffing technique.