Vine Survival Research Articles

A crop water stress index based internet of things decision support system for precision irrigation of wine grape

The goal of irrigation for wine grape grown in arid or semiarid regions is to sustain vine survival and to optimize berry attributes for quality wine production. Precision irrigation of wine grape is impeded by the lack of a smart, decision support system (DSS) to remotely monitor vine water status. The objectives of this study were to: develop and field test an Internet of Things (IoT) DSS system for precision irrigation of wine grape. The IoT system was comprised of a suite of in situ sensors used to monitor real-time weather conditions, grapevine canopy temperature, soil moisture, and irrigation amount. Sensor data were collected and stored on a field deployed data logger that calculated a daily thermal Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) for grapevine using a neural network model with real-time sensor data model inputs. The data logger also hosted, via a cellular modem, webpages showing a running, 12-day history of daily CWSI, fraction of available soil moisture (fASW), irrigation amount, and other sensor data. The webpages were accessible to vineyard managers via cell phone or computer. The CWSI based IoT DDS system was installed at two small acreage, commercial estate vineyards in southwestern Idaho USA over four growing seasons. At each vineyard site, the DSS was used daily by the vineyard irrigation manager to schedule irrigation events. Neither vineyard manager used any other quantitative vine water status monitoring tool for irrigation management decisions. The midday leaf water potential (LWP) of grapevines was routinely measured by research project personnel. Data collected over the study period at each vineyard showed a significant (p < 0.001) correlation with LWP and fASW, providing evidence that, under the conditions of this study, the daily CWSI based IoT provided automated, remote monitoring of vine water status. Both vineyard managers reported daily use of the DSS for irrigation scheduling decisions. Over the four-year study, each vineyard manager was able to maintain consistent seasonal average CWSI daily values and irrigation application amounts, despite yearly differences in climatic conditions. The results of this study demonstrate that a CWSI based IoT DSS can be used for precision irrigation of wine grape in a commercial vineyard under semiarid growing conditions. The CWSI based IoT DSS used a unique combination of neural network modeling, edge computing, and IoT for real-time vine water stress monitoring for precision irrigation.

EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE TYPES ON THE SURVIVAL OF TOMATO VINE CUTTING TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA

Due to the high cost of tomato seeds, it is important to fully exploit the seeds for economic gains. This has necessitated the use of vine cutting technology in tomato production from vegetative parts. However, the vine acclimatization substrates type plays important role in the survival of the cut vines. Hence, this study investigates three different substrate types (cocopeat, water and loamy soil) for their suitability for vines cutting. Seeds of three tomato genotypes were raised in hydroponics system containing dissolved cocopeat. At one month after planting, vines were cut from the plants into the three substrates in a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. Data were collected on vine survival, days to new shoot formation, number of fruits per plant and the average fruit weight at harvest. Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA and differences in the treatment means were separated using the Least Significant Differences at 5 % level of significance. Results obtained showed that the percentage vine survival across the substrates was insignificant with a success rate of up to 77 % in the loamy soil. However, new shoot formation was fastest in the cocopeat substrate (12.56±0.53), while San marzano had the heaviest fruit size (20.73±1.33).

Yield potential of sandponically produced sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) pre-basic seed for selected genotypes

Abstract Sufficient sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) pre-basic seed at the start of the “seed” value chain is critical and often a bottleneck in the production of sweetpotato in Sub-Saharan Africa. Predominantly, pre-basic seed is multiplied in screenhouse using the conventional soil substrate method which is costly, is untenable, and achieves sub-optimal yields. The sandponics system is a better alternative for sweetpotato pre-basic seed multiplication in the screenhouse attributed to increased yields and cost-effectiveness. This experiment compared sweetpotato yield- and growth-related traits of planting materials sourced from the sandponics system with conventional soil substrate planting materials for four genotypes when grown in the field. A randomized complete block design was used with three replicates. Results showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between sources of planting materials and among genotypes for the measured traits. The interaction of source of planting materials and genotype was significant (p ≤ 0.05) for harvest index. Vine survival, storage root yield, number of storage roots per plant, and vine yield were higher by 4.1%, 24%, 27%, and 24%, respectively, in favor of planting materials sourced from the sandponics system. Sandponically multiplied planting materials showed superior performance for yield and most of the measured growth-related traits to planting materials multiplied by the conventional soil substrate method.

Nodal vine cutting technique for assessing nematode resistance in yams

Identifying resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes in yams is a major challenge in yam breeding programmes due partly to insufficient planting material (tubers) for evaluation. Susceptible yam cultivar, TDr 93-31 was inoculated with 0 (control), 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 eggs/individuals each of Meloidogyne incognita, Scutellonema bradys and Pratylenchus brachyurus. Vine cuttings of two cultivars each of Dioscorea rotundata, D. alata and D. dumetorum were compared to conventional minisett method in a second experiment. Planted vines and minisetts were inoculated with 500 and 5000 eggs/individuals respectively. Data were collected on percentage vine survival, fresh root and tuber weight, number of tubers and nematode population and damage. Vine survival was not significantly different between control and inoculated vines. Maximum damage rating (>60%) was observed with initial inoculum of 1000 eggs of M. incognita and 200 individuals of S. bradys and P. brachyurus. The two cultivars of D. alata and D. rotundata developed visible symptoms and supported nematode reproduction while the D. dumetorum cultivars did not. The reaction of yam cultivars planted as vines was consistent with results from conventional minisett method. The lowest inoculum of 200 egg/juveniles was sufficient to elicit a reaction from vines in the vertical sack system.

Vine Cuttings Technique for Evaluating the Reaction of Dioscorea rotundata Varieties to Root-Knot Nematodes

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) contribute to low productivity and post harvest losses of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata). This study evaluated yam cultivars for resistance to Meloidogyne spp. using plants generated from single node vine cuttings. Forty accessions of D. rotundata were selected for the study and laid out in a randomized complete block design with 10 plants per replicate, three replicates and two treatments (Meloidogyne-inoculated and uninoculated). Vines were planted in vertically hanging bags and inoculated four weeks after with 500 eggs of Meloidogyne spp. Plants were harvested sixteen weeks after inoculation and data were collected on weight of tubers, nematode populations in tubers and soil, and nematode damage to tubers. Vine survival was up to 60%, although inoculated vines had lower rates of survival. All the surviving vines produced tubers of various sizes which differed between the control inoculated tubers. Based on galling index (damage) and reproductive factor, five accessions were designated as resistant with the remaining accessions being susceptible. The use of vine-cuttings was found to be effective for screening yam varieties for resistance to Meloidogyne spp.

Dual Fumigant and Herbicide Use Optimizes Replanting Preparation in a Virus- and Nematode-Affected Vineyard

Summary Goal: An exploratory study evaluated best-management techniques for replanting a commercial vineyard suffering from both a high incidence of Grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 and high densities of northern root-knot nematode ( Meloidogyne hapla ). The grower had two goals: to reduce the density of plant-parasitic nematodes, which can delay establishment of young vines, using a pre-plant fumigant, and to reduce survival of virus-infected vine tissue by applying an herbicide to the foliage prior to vine removal. Key Findings: Fall-applied metam sodium reduced densities of M. hapla in the following growing season. Its herbicidal properties also resulted in high root mortality. In cases where vines survived, only a few shoots (and suckers) emerged, displaying typical morphology. Fall-applied foliar glyphosate significantly reduced shoot and sucker regrowth, but did not kill root tissue. In the few instances where shoots and suckers grew the following spring, that tissue expressed typical symptoms of glyphosate phytotoxicity. While low rates of abnormal growth would eliminate much of the aerial reservoir of virus, the presence of live roots indicates that rogue vines and living root debris could contribute to infection of new, virus-free planting stock. Combining fumigant and foliar glyphosate was additive: nematode control, root mortality, and a lack of healthy shoot/crown sucker regrowth. Impact and Significance: This preliminary work showed that the combination of fall fumigation and foliar glyphosate application reduced nematode populations and vine survival. In situations where plant-parasitic nematodes are the sole issue facing replanting, fumigation alone suffices. Where virus alone is the impetus for replanting, fall-applied foliar glyphosate may provide sufficient overall vine mortality, with a caveat of low root mortality and its attendant risk of root-feeding vectors spreading the virus to new planting stock.

Cutting and Herbicide Treatments for Control of Oriental Bittersweet, Pale Swallow-Wort and Morrow's Honeysuckle

ABSTRACT: Research was conducted on control methods for Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), pale swallow-wort (Cynanchum rossicum), and Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) near Long Island Sound in Groton and East Lyme, Connecticut. These nonnative, invasive plants threaten the health of ecosystems at these sites and many other areas throughout the Northeast. For the Oriental bittersweet study, vines were treated at one of three timings (April, August, or November) in 2003 and evaluated in the summer of 2004. Treatments consisted of triclopyr ester formulations applied to the basal bark of uncut vines, or of triclopyr amine or glyphosate formulations applied to the stump surface of cut vines. The experiment was repeated with a different set of vines treated in 2004 and evaluated in 2005. Cut-stump herbicide treatments were generally more effective than basal-bark treatments at killing bittersweet vines. All cut-stump herbicide treatments were effective in reducing vine survival and number a...

The Vitis vinifera C‐repeat binding protein 4 (VvCBF4) transcriptional factor enhances freezing tolerance in wine grape

Chilling and freezing can reduce significantly vine survival and fruit set in Vitis vinifera wine grape. To overcome such production losses, a recently identified grapevine C-repeat binding factor (CBF) gene, VvCBF4, was overexpressed in grape vine cv. 'Freedom' and found to improve freezing survival and reduced freezing-induced electrolyte leakage by up to 2 °C in non-cold-acclimated vines. In addition, overexpression of this transgene caused a reduced growth phenotype similar to that observed for CBF overexpression in Arabidopsis and other species. Both freezing tolerance and reduced growth phenotypes were manifested in a transgene dose-dependent manner. To understand the mechanistic basis of VvCBF4 transgene action, one transgenic line (9-12) was genotyped using microarray-based mRNA expression profiling. Forty-seven and 12 genes were identified in unstressed transgenic shoots with either a >1.5-fold increase or decrease in mRNA abundance, respectively. Comparison of mRNA changes with characterized CBF regulons in woody and herbaceous species revealed partial overlaps, suggesting that CBF-mediated cold acclimation responses are widely conserved. Putative VvCBF4-regulon targets included genes with functions in cell wall structure, lipid metabolism, epicuticular wax formation and stress-responses suggesting that the observed cold tolerance and dwarf phenotypes are the result of a complex network of diverse functional determinants.

Effect of Pruning on Recovery and Productivity of Cold-Injured Merlot Grapevines

A field experiment was conducted to determine effects of pruning time and bud number on vine recovery and performance following cold injury to trunk tissues. Own-rooted Merlot grapevines planted in 1999 and trained to a bilateral cordon with vertical shoot-positioning were pruned in 2003 and 2004 as follows: prebudbreak spur pruning, postbudbreak spur pruning, prebudbreak spur pruning with late repruning (double pruning), minimal pruning, and minimal pruning with disbudding of all nodes. On average, 25% of buds were killed by cold temperatures in late fall. Trunk injury, rated as tissue browning on adjacent vines, varied from 20 to 100% phloem injury with little xylem injury. Phloem injury had virtually no effect on budbreak, growth, fruiting, and fruit composition in the two following seasons. Differences in bud number per vine due to pruning treatment led primarily to equivalent differences in shoot numbers, cluster numbers, and yield. Minimal pruning resulted in the highest yield in both seasons, while double pruning and disbudding resulted in the lowest, but even disbudded vines grew fruitful shoots from basal and latent buds. Overall yields were low and fruit composition was unaffected by the pruning treatment, although soluble solids was negatively correlated with yield. Despite the two warm seasons, most of the vines, including those with high shoot and cluster numbers, did not collapse later in the season. Results indicate that pruning time and bud number did not influence vine survival and recovery from cold injury and had little effect on subsequent growth and vine performance.

Evaluation of the productivity of the hybrid vine Seyval blanc in function of several types of protection against frost in Quebec

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;In Quebec, winter frost is one of the determining factors influencing vine survival and yield. To evaluate the quality of the different types of winter protection, ground temperature data under different covers (ground knolls, leaf mounds, carried over snow and natural snow) and ambient air temperatures were recorded. Results show that the Seyval blanc, if not protected against winter frost, can sustain quite serious damages when the air temperature reaches -30 °C. Ridging, leaf covering and the natural snow cover as well as carried over snow have a positive effect on ground temperatures, since over the site without protection, frost penetrated down to a depth of 50 cm. However, it seems that the root System did not sustain significant damages from the ground frost since regrowth occurred in the Spring. Because of its direct exposure to radiation and surface climatic conditions, bare soil warms up more quickly in the Spring compared to the other sites benefiting from protection. Results also indicate that the mortality rate of the vine stock fruit buds without protection is nearly 100 % compared to the protected vine stocks with a fruit bud mortality rate varying from 22.5 to 35.8 %. The protected vine stocks, regardless of the type of protection used, had satislactory yields from 7.2 t/ha to 24.4 t/ha. On the other hand, the raisin yield of the vine stocks without any winter protection is null. The best raisin yields were obtained over sites where vine stocks were protected by ridging (40 cm of earth), while the vine stocks protected by leaf covering showed an average yield. We also observed that when vine stock leaf covering is coupled with lodged vine shoots, raisin yields are higher than when the vine shoots are erect. However, in both cases, potential yield per hectare is satisfactory. Hence, the lodging of vine shoots becomes a useless operation. The vine stocks protected by natural snow as well as by leaf covering (30 cm + carried over snow and lodged vine shoots) gave the fruit with the highest sugar content. Snow is also an excellent insulator because a 37 cm high snow cover permitted the survival of the vine stocks protected by snow even when the temperature reached -30 °C. The only problem still posing a threat is snow cover variability during the winter season. A reduced snow cover, coupled with temperature conditions under the threshold of tolerance of the vine to cold, could not insure satisfactory protection ol the fruit buds.&lt;/p&gt;

Adaptation, Maturity, and Fruit Quality of Table Grapes in the Intermountain West Region of the U.S.A.

Abstract Adaptability, berry maturity and fruit quality of table grapes in the intermountain west region of the United States were studied. Average survival rates were less than 50% for vines of ‘Fantasy’, ‘Flame’, and ‘Red Globe’, but greater than 80% for vines of ‘Alborz’, ‘Concord’, ‘Concord Seedless’, ‘Delight’, ‘Einset’, NY 36095, NY 47616, NY 65.479.1, NY 65.483.2, ‘Pasargad’, ‘Reliance’, and ‘Ruby’. ‘Alborz’, ‘Flame’, and ‘Lakemont’ had heaviest clusters over several seasons. One-year data showed that ‘Emerald’, ‘Exotic’, and ‘Fiesta’ also produced heavier clusters than many other grapes. ‘Canadice’, ‘Concord Seedless’, ‘Glenora’, ‘Interlaken’, NY 65.479.1, ‘Reliance’, and ‘Romulus’ had greatest soluble solids concentrations (SSC). ‘Challenger’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Exotic’, and ‘Italia’ had heaviest berries. Overall, ‘Alborz’, ‘Pasargad’, and ‘Reliance’ had high vine survival rates and high fruit quality ratings (combination of SSC, berry weight, berry tenderness, and/or cluster size). ‘Italia’, ‘Saturn’, and ‘Emerald’ had high overall fruit quality. ‘Alborz’, ‘Pasargad’, ‘Reliance’, and perhaps ‘Italia’, ‘Emerald’, and ‘Saturn’, therefore, are suitable for planting under the conditions of this experiment.

Economics of Drip Irrigation for Juice Grape Vineyards in New York State

Grape growers need investment and cost guidelines for drip irrigation to evaluate the economics of getting vines into production as quickly as possible and to avoid periods of drought during the productive life of the vineyard. The benefits of irrigation may include: better vine survival, earlier fruit production, greater yields, more efficient distribution of nutrients, less plant stress, reduced yield variability and improved fruit quality. Research was undertaken to determine drip irrigation investment and annual costs. This project was designed to assist growers in determining the investment, fixed and variable annual costs and expected returns from drip irrigation. Irrigation suppliers provided typical equipment needs and investment costs for various drip irrigation designs. Economic worksheets are provided to assist growers in estimating fixed and variable costs of drip irrigation. The economics of yield data were applied to replicated multiyear irrigation studies to assist growers in determining yield response from drip irrigation. Net present value (NPV) methodology was used to determine the discounted break-even investment results from published responses to drip irrigation. Growers with typical drip irrigation systems and various water sources can expect investments in drip irrigation of $550 to $1,150 per acre with 10 acre blocks of vines. Based upon eight years of data from trials in Fredonia, NY, in the Lake Erie grape belt, average yield increases due to irrigation on establishment and growing of Niagara grapes were 2.8 ton per production year per acre, resulting in a break-even investment of approximately $1,600 per acre. But on established minimal pruned Concord grapes, seven years of data showed a 1.1 ton increase due to irrigation and a break-even investment of only $200 per acre which was well below the total cost of a complete microirrigation drip system. On a new planting of Concords, with droughty soils, the analysis may very well show cost effectiveness. Growers who were interviewed were unable to quantify the benefits and costs of drip irrigation but were pleased with their irrigated yields and brix responses from drip irrigation. This analysis has provided the economic rationale for the investment in microirrigation with some varieties and under certain soil types.

Effects of flooding and alluvium deposition on kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa): 1. Early vine decline

Abstract Kiwifruit vines are reported to be very sensitive to anaerobic conditions in the root zone, but this has been little studied under orchard conditions. Opportunity to study this extensively arose when, in March 1988, Cyclone Bola caused flooding in kiwifruit orchards near Gisbome, New Zealand. We sought to identify factors responsible for early decline of flooded vines, and strategies to increase vine survival after flooding. Early decline was defined as premature defoliation in the first 11 weeks following the flood. Vine health and soil conditions were monitored at 10 sites. Vines first showed waterlogging damage 3–7 days after the flood, but the proportion of vines affected varied greatly between sites. Over all sites, one third of the vines experienced early decline. One half of these affected vines were still stressed or dead the following spring (October 1988). Early decline was closely associated with feeder root death. Infections by Phytophthora spp. and site-to-site differences in flood c...

Cold Acclimation of Young Kiwifruit Vines under Artificial Hardening Conditions

One-year-old kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et R. Ferguson var. deliciosa] vines were grown under 8- and 16-hour photoperiods to study the influence of photoperiod on cold acclimation and determine the potential level of hardiness that young vines attain. Vines were acclimated by reducing growth chamber temperature at 2-week intervals, beginning at 31/20C (16 hours/8 hours) and ending with 15/5C after 8 weeks. Vines receiving an 8-hour photoperiod were more cold hardy than vines receiving a 16-hour photoperiod after 4 weeks of acclimation as determined by electrolyte leakage from stem tissues. Moreover, vines receiving an 8-hour photoperiod survived freezing at – 9C at the end of the 8-week acclimation period, whereas those receiving a 16-hour photoperiod were killed at – 6C. Vine survival and electrolyte leakage of sterns were highly correlated (r = – 0.79 to – 0.90).

Growth, Cold Hardiness, and Carbohydrate Content of Vidal blanc Grapevines Propagated by Hardwoodvs.Softwood Cuttings

Vidal blanc (<i>Vitis</i> x sp.) hardwood and softwood cuttings propagated in 1983 (H-83 and S-83) and 1984 (H-84 and S-84) were evaluated for root and shoot growth in the nursery, carbohydrate content, cold hardiness, and vine survival and growth after planting in the field. Roots and shoots of H-84 cuttings were significantly larger than those of S-84 cuttings. S-84 cuttings had a greater starch and total carbohydrate content in the roots than any of the other cuttings when dug in October. Roots of S-83 and H-83 cuttings dug in December had similar starch and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels. Shoots of S-83 cuttings had a lower starch content than H-83 cuttings, but WSC content was similar. In freezing tests, S-84 cuttings had less phloem injury at -25°C and greater primary bud hardiness than H-84 cuttings when collected from the nursery in mid-winter. S-83 and H-83 cuttings grew vigorously when planted in the field in the spring and were not significantly different in shoot length at the end of the first growing season.