Grape Crops Research Articles

The Impact of Autumn Tillage Activities on the Development of Weeds in Grape Crops

The article examines the impact of autumn tillage activities on the development of weeds as an element of agrotechnical control technology with integrated weed protection. In order to optimize the measures of autumn tillage in weed control, the main plowing and loosening of the soil around grape bushes in Ganja-Dashkasan district at different depths and at different times were studied. As a result of the research, it was found that if deeper plowing of the soil (25-28 cm) and deeper loosening of the soil around grape bushes (25 cm), depending on soil and climatic conditions, is carried out in October, it has the effect of reducing the number of weeds compared with other options, while the biological efficiency in this option becomes higher.

Fuzzy Rules in Knowledge Based Diagnosis of Anthracnose Disease in Grape Crop

Fuzzy Rules in Knowledge Based Diagnosis of Anthracnose Disease in Grape Crop

Climate Change Threatens 70% of Winemaking Regions

In regions where natural resources are scarce or economies depend on producing certain wines, adapting and diversifying grape crops is easier said than done.

The use of ecologically safe means in the protection against sucking phytophages in the ampelocenoses of the Northern Black Sea region

Goal. To provide data on insecticides for protection of grapes from thrips and Japanese grape cicada and their influence on the number of entomophages, which is an important element for the organization of effective and environmentally friendly technology of grape growing.
 Methods. Combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in plant protection — entomology and biomethod. The use of generally accepted methods of analysis (hypothesis, experiment, induction and synthesis) provides sufficient information on the control of grape thrips and Japanese grape cicada under the conditions of using environmentally friendly means of protection, which is one of the main elements of modern technologies for optimizing agroecosystems and obtaining environmentally friendly products. The phytosanitary method of route surveys involves the identification of entomophages and the establishment of dominant species and prevalence of grape thrips and Japanese grape cicada among them. The field method ensures the study of the effectiveness of the elements of the integrated grape crop protection system. The laboratory method involved the identification of species diversity of beneficial fauna. The statistical method was used to calculate the data obtained, determine their accuracy and reliability.
 Results. The database was updated with environmentally safe products, and regulations for their use were established, which are focused not so much on pest control as on the overall optimization of the phytosanitary condition of plantations, obtaining environmentally friendly products and preserving beneficial fauna. Under natural conditions, without pesticide pressure, the number of predators in a multicomponent entomocomplex is many times higher than in traditional agrocenoses.
 Conclusions. The composition of preparations with a given direction of minimizing damage to beneficial fauna and, accordingly, the environment was formed. The results obtained and the conclusions formulated on their basis are of practical importance in terms of the prospects for the production of environmentally friendly products by applying environmentally friendly and effective methods of controlling the number of sucking pests and preserving the natural agrobiocenosis.

Impact Assessment of Climate Change on Hailstorm Risk in Spanish Wine Grape Crop Insurance: Insights from Linear and Quantile Regressions

There is growing concern that climate change poses a serious threat to the sustainability of the insurance business. Understanding whether climate warming is a cause for an increase in claims and losses, and how this cause–effect relationship will develop in the future, are two significant open questions. In this article, we answer both questions by particularizing the geographical area of Spain, and a precise risk, hailstorm in crop insurance in the line of business of wine grapes. We quantify climate change using the Spanish Actuarial Climate Index (SACI). We utilize a database containing all the claims resulting from hail risk in Spain from 1990 to 2022. With homogenized data, we consider as dependent variables the monthly number of claims, the monthly number of loss costs equal to one, and the monthly total losses. The independent variable is the monthly Spanish Actuarial Climate Index (SACI). We attempt to explain the former through the latter using regression and quantile regression models. Our main finding is that climate change, as measured by the SACI, explains these three dependent variables. We also provide an estimate of the increase in the monthly total losses’ Value at Risk, corresponding to a future increase in climate change measured in units of the SACI. Spanish crop insurance managers should carefully consider these conclusions in their decision-making process to ensure the sustainability of this line of business in the future.

MICROFLORA AND PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI AFFECTING BACTERIA IN GRAPE PLANTATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN

In the presented study, isolation of bacterial strains, viz., Pantoea agglomerans, Priestia megaterium and phytopathogenic micromycetes that cause damage and eventually death of grape crops, came from a 10 to 15-year-old vine plantation. A Pantoea agglomerans gram-negative bacillus facultative and anaerobic bacterium strain achieved isolation from grape plants, with its morphological characteristics studied. Bacterial strains with antifungal activities against phytopathogenic micromycetes succeeded in their identification. Bacterial isolates collected from the vines underwent screening for their growth properties. It was apparent that Pantoea agglomerans actively grew wheat coleoptiles by 2.6 mm and maize coleoptiles by 2.3 mm compared with the control. Observable evidence also showed that sorghum coleoptile actively grew by 1.7 mm compared with the control treatment by 2.9 mm. The 26 Aspergillus sp., 23 Penicillium sp., 25 Fusarium sp., 30 Alternaria sp., and five Curvularia sp. phytopathogenic micromycetes belonging to the genus were notable. Bacterial strains isolated from the vine showed the highest antifungal activity against micromycetes belonging to the genus Penicillium and reduced the radius of phytopathogenic growth to 47–54 mm. Compared with micromycetes belonging to the genus Fusarium, it was also apparent that the pathogen reduced the growth radius to 27–35 mm. Isolation of phytopathogenic micromycetes from the vine allows early detection and prevention of grape diseases. Based on these studies, the identification of antifungal activity of the bacterial strains isolated from the vine and the presence of phytohormones in the culture fluid indicated that it is an essential and environmentally friendly biological tool in the cultivation of grapes for human consumption.

Minimizing food loss and repurposing waste within the viticulture industry

The global issue of Food Loss and Waste (FLW) is gaining increased attention from both academic and policy circles. This challenge is progressively spreading, particularly in less developed and developing nations. This article aims to address the FLW concern within grape cultivation, proposing solutions for repurposing leftover materials from the crop. The paper will depict the current understanding of FLW, outline the supply and value chain of grape crops, and conduct an intricate analysis of production quantities, imports, exports, and processing. The study draws from the IPSUS project's research, which explores techniques for reclaiming plant and seaweed proteins through recycling raw materials. Additionally, it will explore the potential for upcycling and assess the quantity and quality of FLW at various points along the value chain. To evaluate FLW in viticulture, an IoT system will measure environmental parameters like air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and precipitation. These measurements will help estimate harvest quality and quantity, pivotal aspects within the context of food loss and waste. The outcomes of this research will underscore the significance of repurposing grape crops, opening novel avenues for agricultural advancement in Romania.

Biology of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) in the cultivation of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) under laboratory conditions

The grape crop (Vitis vinifera L.) in the Piura region is infested by pests such as Spodoptera eridania Stoll, a polyphagous species native to the South American tropics. The objective of carrying out the research work was to know basic aspects about its morphology and biology, because there were no records of them in this crop, nor in others in the region. Daily observations were made to determine the duration of the egg incubation period, larval development, and the pupal stage and adult longevity. Once the adults emerged, they mated to establish the oviposition rhythm and reproductive capacity; all these parameters were evaluated for three generations. It was determined that, under laboratory conditions, the development cycle of S. eridania was 34.90 days for the first generation, 31.16 and 28.60 days for the second and third, with an average temperature record of 27.97 °C and relative humidity of 71.86%. The results show that it can be developed in vine plantations and will be useful in planning the work of the crop and in establishing integrated pest management strategies to reduce infestations when they occur.

Efficiency of Using Herbicides in the Weed Control in Vineyards

The article examines the impact of the use of herbicides alternately with agrotechnical measures on the economic indicators of the grape harvest in integrated weed control, designed to keep their spread below the level of economic damage. The effects of herbicides used to control weeds were analyzed by variant. The species composition of weeds in the vineyards was determined, the correct selection of herbicides and chemical control were carried out alternately with agrotechnical measures, strictly observing the rules for the use of herbicides. Timely chemical control led to a reduction in harmful weeds until the end of the season. As a result of reduced environmental risk, the economic performance of grape production also increased significantly with increasing yields. Compared to the control, the yield in all variants was 12.38-18.27%, the profitability was higher in the range of 8.21-28.6%. Thus, it has been established that the use of herbicides in grape crops infected with annual and perennial weeds is cost-effective and allows for additional income.

Financial and Economic Analysis of Grape Crop Production in South Sinai Governorate

Financial and Economic Analysis of Grape Crop Production in South Sinai Governorate

A comparative study of grape crop disease classification using various transfer learning techniques

A comparative study of grape crop disease classification using various transfer learning techniques

Growth and Instability in Area, Production and Productivity of Grape Crop in Afghanistan

Grapes constitute a widely grown fruit in Afghanistan. Grapes can be grown just in anywhere but mostly in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Zabul and Ghazni provinces. In Afghanistan there are three local varieties that offer the best commercial return for export: Shindokhani, Kishmishi and Taifi. New commercial varieties are also being introduced, such as Thompson Seedless and Red Globe, and are beginning to make inroads into foreign markets. The present study estimates the growth rate and instability of area, production, productivity of grape in top five provinces and Afghanistan as a whole during years 2011-12 to 2019-20. To analyse the growth rate and instability of area, production and productivity of grape, the statistical tools like Compound growth rate (CGR) and Coefficient of Variation (CV) were used. The result of the study showed that, the CGR for production in the Kandahar and Ghazni provinces were found positive and significant. While negative growth rate were found in Kabul, Parwan and Zabul provinces. The instability of production and area were very high in Kandahar province compare to the other selected provinces.

Integrated mRNA and miRNA transcriptome analysis of grape in responses to salt stress.

Salt stress is an important factor which may negatively affect plant growth and development. High concentrations of Na+ ions can destroy the ion balance in plant somatic cells, as well as destroying cell membranes and forming a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other damage mechanisms. However, plants have evolved numerous defense mechanisms in response to the damages caused by salt stress conditions. Grape (Vitis vinifera L.), a type of economic crop, is widely planted throughout the world. It has been found that salt stress is an important factor affecting the quality and growth of grape crops. In this study, a high-throughput sequencing method was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in grapes as responses to salt stress. A total of 7,856 differentially expressed genes under the salt stress conditions were successfully identified, of which 3,504 genes were observed to have up-regulated expressions and 4,352 genes had down-regulated expressions. In addition, this study also identified 3,027 miRNAs from the sequencing data using bowtie and mireap software. Among those, 174 were found to be highly conserved, and the remaining miRNAs were less conserved. In order to analyze the expression levels of those miRNAs under salt stress conditions, a TPM algorithm and DESeq software were utilized to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs among different treatments. Subsequently, a total of thirty-nine differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, of which fourteen were observed to be up-regulated miRNAs and twenty-five were down-regulated under the salt stress conditions. A regulatory network was built in order to examine the responses of grape plants to salt stress, with the goal of laying a solid foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of grape in responses to salt stress.

Optimization of Key Hydraulic Structure Parameters of a New Type of Water–Pesticide Integrated Sprinkler Based on Response Surface Experiment

To meet the requirements of trellis grape crop root irrigation, spraying pesticides on branches and leaves, an integrated sprinkler was designed, which relies on the flow pressure to change the irrigation water and spray pesticide working modes. The structural parameters that affect the hydraulic performance were selected based on the working principle of the sprinkler. The key parameters for the irrigation mode included diversion hole inclination angle, refractive cone angle, refractive cone length, and cone hole distance. The key parameters for the spray pesticide mode included diversion chute width, the number of diversion chutes, the diversion chute inclination angle, the rotary acceleration chamber height, and the nozzle outlet cylindrical section length. The central composite design response surface tests of the water–pesticide integrated sprinkler were carried out; the analysis of variance and regression analysis were selected; the main influence rules and interactions of key structural parameters on irrigation performance and pesticide spraying performance of sprinkler irrigation system were obtained. The optimal parameters of the water–pesticide integrated sprinkler were: the diversion hole inclination angle is 20.8°, the refractive cone angle is 123.7°, the refractive cone length is 8.8 mm, the cone hole distance is 3.6 mm, the diversion chute width is 2.5 mm, the number of diversion chutes is 2, the diversion chute inclination angle is 10°, the rotary acceleration chamber height is 1.3 mm, and the nozzle outlet cylindrical section length is 0.7 mm. The irrigation hydraulic performance of the wetted radius is 3.4 m, the average irrigation application rate is 0.65 mm/h, and the uniformity coefficient is 88%. The spraying pesticide performance of the droplet volume mid-diameter is 200.2 μm, the droplet spectrum width is 2.2, and the droplet coverage is 9.4%.

Some Economic Aspects of Egyptian Foreign Agricultural Trade of Grape Crop

The grape crop is considered one of the main fruit crops in Egypt, which is grown for local production and export. Its fruitful area amounted to about 133.81 thousand feddan (Feddan = 0.42 hectare), representing about 9.28% of the total fruitful area of ​​​​about 1.44 million feddan, and the production reached about 1.30 million tons, which represents about 11.22% of the total fruit production amounting to about 11.59 million tons, and Egypt produces the equivalent of 6.49% of the total world production of grapes, and the value of Egypt’s grape exports amounted to about $ 131.07 million, which represents about 2.91% of the value of global production of grapes, which is about $ 10894.6 million in 2020. The research aims to identify the current production situation of the Egyptian grape crop, as well as to identify the current situation of exports of the Egyptian grape crop, in addition to measuring the export performance indicators of it, and to identify the importance of this crop as one of the productive and export crops, in addition to the possibility of developing or increasing exports. The research relied on the two methods of descriptive and quantitative analysis, using some indicators (market share, apparent comparative advantage, instability coefficient, market penetration coefficient), we find that the competitive advantage index has exceeded the one during the period (2000-2020), Which indicates the importance of this export crop. It was found from the results: that the annual growth rate in each of the total production and consumption, the quantity and price of export, and the value of exports of the Egyptian grape crop reached about 1.90%, 1.50%, 15.70%, 10.06%, and 20.30%, respectively during the period (2000-2020), and by studying the export performance indicators of the Egyptian grape crop using the competitive advantage index, we find that it has exceeded the one during the previous period, which indicates the importance of this crop as an important export crop. These countries are (Italy, South Africa, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Israel, Tunisia) with rates of about (36.35%, 21.41%, 20.41%, 9.96%, 5.63%, 2.81%, 1.68%, 0.97%, 0.63% and 0.09%), respectively, during the same previous period. And by studying the most important world markets of the Egyptian grape exports were Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and other countries which amounting to about 15.02%, 11.77%, 3.64%, 1.90%, 41.16% respectively, during the same previous period. and by studying the market penetration coefficient for Egyptian grape exports during the average period (2000-2020), it was found that the most important of these countries are Netherlands, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Germany with rates of about 0.47%, 0.43%, 0.42%, 0.40%, 0.37%, meaning that each country obtains the previous percentage of its needs from the Egyptian grape crop, respectively, during the average of the previous period, and it is clear that the market penetration rate of the Dutch market has increased as an average for the previous period. And by studying the instability coefficient for the quantity of production, the quantity of exports, and the price and value of exports of the Egyptian grape crop, we find that the quantity of production and the quantity of exports were more stable than the price, while the value was the most volatile during the same previous period. By studying the market share of Egyptian grape exports to the most important importing countries (United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Saudi Arabia), it is clear that these percentages decreased during the study period between Egypt and those countries, as they reached about (5.94%, 1.69%, 3.23%, 3%, 2.07% and 2.75%, respectively, during the study period. In light of reviewing the various results of the study, a set of recommendations can be put forward that may benefit the makers of agricultural policy and internal or external marketing of Egyptian grapes to increase its production and exports to various global markets.

Grape pomace's potential on semi‐arid soil health enhances performance of maize, wheat, and grape crops

AbstractBackgroundGrape pomace (GP) is a by‐product of wineries after filtering the grape juice for wine production. GP contains seeds, pulp, skin, and stalks with acidic properties, and it is normally composted before using as a soil amendment. However, composting GP requires more time, labor, and equipment; furthermore, composting loses some of the desirable organic acids for arid soils. The acidic properties of these organic acids and the plant nutrients in GP make it a desirable amendment for arid soils in both non‐composted and composted forms.AimThis study investigates the potential of directly applying GP as a soil amendment and its impact on arid soil health and plant performance.MethodsTo test the potential of non‐composted GP as a soil amendment, greenhouse and field studies were conducted by combining GP with existing management practices (manure application for soil used in the greenhouse study and fertigation for the field study) to assess the effects of GP on soil health and crop (maize, wheat, and grape) performance.ResultsAdding 5% GP to an alkaline soil significantly increased maize and wheat growth and shoot nutrient concentrations in the greenhouse and grapes in the field (48% yield increase). The significance of GP on maize, wheat, and grapes was associated with soil nutrient enhancements (i.e., nutrients supplied, increase in organic matter and microbial biomass increase, reduction in pH, and better nutrient mobilization).ConclusionGP has the potential for direct use as a soil amendment for soil and crop health improvement, especially in arid soils with high pH and limited soil organic matter.

An Economic Study on the Current and Future Status of Organic Agriculture in Egypt

The agricultural sector is considered one of the main sectors in the Egyptian economy, as it contributes to achieving economic and social development, and the agricultural sector contributes about 15.3% of the gross domestic product, which is estimated at LE 671.8 billion in 2020, and in employing about 6.2 million workers working in this sector, representing about 29.2% of the total employment during the year 2020. Agricultural production represents a large proportion of the national income, which requires the use of modern methods of biotechnology and economic efficiency at the same time, so countries compete to increase the crop production of agricultural lands through horizontal expansion and vertical expansion using modern agricultural technologies to increase production such as non-traditional fertilizers and organic fertilizers, Which would lead to an increase in the competitiveness of countries that apply these technologies. As a result of the application of international standards and conditions on Egyptian agricultural exports, which led to a decrease in the amount of agricultural exports of most agricultural crops, especially food crops of vegetables and fruits. Therefore, exporters began to adopt an organic farming method that relies on organic fertilization and biological control as an alternative to traditional agriculture to produce food crops. Free of various pesticide residues. The research aims at an economic study on the current and future situation of organic agriculture in Egypt. A study of the impact of organic farming of the potato crop on some productive and economic indicators revealed a decrease in the productivity per feddan of the organic farming pattern by about 2 tons/feddan compared to the traditional farming pattern of the potato crop. The organic cultivation of the potato crop also resulted in an increase in the farm price, total revenue, and net yield per feddan, in addition to an increase in the cost and return of a ton produced from organic potatoes. The study showed an increase in the cost-return ratio of the organically grown potato crop by about 1.08, with a rate of change of about 74%. Likewise, the profit of the invested pound for the organically grown potato crop increased by about 0.08, with a rate of change of about 235%. The break-even point to cover the total costs of the organically grown potato crop decreased by about 5.16 tons, with a decreasing rate of change of about 50.18%. The study also showed a decrease in the acre productivity of the organic farming pattern by about 1 ton / feddan compared to the traditional cultivation pattern of the grape crop, and an increase in the farm price, total revenue, and net yield per feddan, in addition to an increase in the cost and return of a ton produced from organic grapes, and an increase in the cost-return ratio. For organically grown grape crops by about 0.04, with a rate of change of about 1.47%, an increase in profit for the investor’s pound for organically grown grapes by about 0.04, with a rate of change of about 2.34%, and a decrease in the amount of break-even to cover the total costs. The organically grown grape crop amounted to about 0.45 tons, with a decreasing rate of change of about 8.02%. The study also clarified the most important problems facing the expansion of organic agriculture in particular, the study that affects the quantities produced and prices, which causes severe fluctuations in the supply of that agriculture, which affects farmers' decisions in their production. The research, based on its results, reached some recommendations that could benefit the Egyptian economic policy makers in this field.

Regional impacts of rural credit and rural insurance policies on crop area and productivity: evidence from São Paulo state, Brazil (2008 and 2017)

PurposeConstrained input use and lower productivity of rural establishments may be associated with restricted or concentrated access to financial resources, especially in developing countries. Meanwhile, agricultural activity entails risks associated with the volatility of net cash flows and external events, which may discourage riskier but higher return investments (e.g. technology). As rural credit can alleviate the former, and rural insurance may help alleviate the latter, the combination of both policies might endorse each other. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of rural credit and rural insurance policies with respect to productivity and crop area, in São Paulo state, Brazil, using farmer's microdata from two surveys realized in 2007/08 and 2016/17.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses propensity score matching and the entropy balance approaches in a complementary way. This study compared three policy treatments – rural credit, rural insurance and both policies combined, against establishments that received neither one. The analysis considered sugarcane, grain and grape crops separately and employed farmer's microdata. Moreover, the analysis was stratified into two categories: establishments owned by family farmers and those that did not.FindingsRural credit policy is related to higher productivity and larger cultivated area for grains and only to larger area for grape crops in the last analyzed period (2016/17). Rural insurance, as a unique policy or combined with credit, is related to higher productivity and cultivated areas, for all analyzed crops, only in the second period (2016/17), as the policy became more accessible to farmers. Heterogeneity regarding crops and farmers might influence the effectiveness of these policies. Despite rural insurance being related to a better performance regarding the outcome variables, it still reaches a small share of farmers, especially when combined with credit.Originality/valueMany studies about the effectiveness of rural credit in Brazil have been conducted throughout the years, while there have been fewer studies regarding rural insurance since it became an important policy in the mid-2000s. However, few studies have conducted an analysis comparing its individual and interactive influences, with such level of disaggregation, on a farm-level database, considering the heterogeneity of the data and the different categories of farmers.

Phytosociological survey of weeds in the grapevine

Viticulture is expanding in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Weed management is essential for the crop, so knowing the floristic composition of weeds in the vineyards makes this practice sustainable. This study aimed to evaluate the floristic composition of weed populations in grape crops in two seasons, considering different altitudes. The experiment was performed in four properties located in Santa Teresa, ES, Brazil, two of which were at altitudes above 500 m of and two below 500 m, in the winter (2018) and summer (2019) seasons. Weeds were identified with the square inventory method. The phytosociological analysis was based on absolute and relative parameters of frequency, density, dominance, importance value index, and relevance index, besides the diversity, evenness, and similarity indices. Fifty species, 41 genera, and 19 families were identified. The most representative families regarding the number of species were Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Malvaceae. In properties with higher altitudes, the species with the highest IVI was Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm., in both seasons. In properties with lower altitudes, the highest IVI values were found for Malvastrum coromandelianum L. in the winter and Commelina benghalensis and Portulaca oleracea L. in the summer. The areas below 500 m of altitude showed the highest diversity and evenness indices. The proximity between the areas in both regions contributed to the increased similarity index. Altitude and time of the year contribute to the composition of the infesting community.

Grapevine leaves (Vitis vinifera): Chemical characterization of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity during leave development

Leaves from Vitis vinifera L. represent the less studied and valorized wastes of grape crops and the winery industry. This study aims thus to perform for the first time a deepened assessment of the bioactive compounds in grapevine leaves. The detailed composition of main phytochemicals involved in the high antioxidant of grape leaves (2.20 g TE/100 g) was determined including carotenoids (lutein, β-carotene), tocopherols (α and ɣ-tocopherol), polyphenols (phenolics acids, flavonoids), and phytosterols (β-sitosterol). In particular, high levels of lutein (0.3–1.0 g/kg) and α-tocopherol (0.2–1.2 g/kg) were observed. Moreover, the evolution of bioactive compounds during 7 harvesting times from July to October was also studied showing that the content of phytochemicals fluctuates according to the development stage of grape leaves. Phytosterols for example reached their highest levels in leaves in the later stage of maturation (T6 – T7) with values around 169 ± 40 mg/kg.