Wine-growing Areas Research Articles

Assessing environmental exposure to phyto-pharmaceutical products in a wine-growing area of Alsace, France: Combined indoor and outdoor air and dust sampling

Assessing environmental exposure to phyto-pharmaceutical products in a wine-growing area of Alsace, France: Combined indoor and outdoor air and dust sampling

Mitigating Effect of the Sea on Temperatures Along Mediterranean Coastal Areas: The Case of the Vine Territory of the Matera DOP in Basilicata (Italy)

This study aims to assess temperature variations caused by ongoing climate change in the Basilicata region, southern Italy—Ionian side of the Gulf of Taranto—on the territory of the Matera DOP vineyard. In particular, it aims to assess the influence of the sea on temperature trends, and particularly to its “mitigating effect” in the context of ongoing climate change. Temperature trends were analyzed using ERA5-Land data from 1981 to 2022 and data from weather stations of the Lucanian Agency for Development and Innovation in Agriculture from 2000 to 2023. Temperature trends were studied considering both the period of the vegetative-productive season of the vineyards and the whole year. The results of this study show that, for the historical period analyzed, the Matera DOP area showed a significant upward trend in temperatures, particularly in the inland areas. This increase, especially for minimum temperatures, is more evident at higher elevations than at lower elevations near the sea. Indeed, coastal areas benefit from the thermoregulatory effect of the Ionian Sea, which moderates temperature increases at lower elevations. It follows that the Matera DOP wine-growing areas, and particularly those furthest from the coastal strip, will have to adapt to harsh climatic conditions that will certainly affect the quality and typicality of the wines.

Occurrence and Persistence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Population in Spontaneous Fermentation and the Relation with "Winery Effect".

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ensures successful fermentation in winemaking, although the persistent use of commercial strains lead to the loss of aroma complexity of wines. Hence, the research of indigenous S. cerevisiae with proper oenological features and well adapted to specific wine-growing areas become of great interest for winemakers. Here, 206 pure cultures of S. cerevisiae were isolated from two wineries during a two-year sampling campaign and bio-typed through interdelta sequences analyses with the aim to evaluate the occurrence and persistence of the S. cerevisiae wild population linked to each winery. Both wineries belong to the same Verdicchio DOC wine area (Castelli di Jesi), and never used commercial yeasts during fermentation. Results showed 19 different biotypes with a specific population of S. cerevisiae in each winery, without cross-contamination with each other and with commercial starter strains. Moreover, inside each winery a persistence of some dominant biotypes was observed over time (three biotypes in winery 1; 95% of isolates in the two years and one biotype in winery 2; 20% of isolates in the two years), indicating a sort of "winery-effect". The evaluation of S. cerevisiae populations for the oenological characters by microfermentations showed a proper and well distinct aromatic imprinting on the resulted wines supporting the concept of "winery effect".

European vineyards and their cultural landscapes exposed to record drought and heat

CONTEXTEuropean vineyards, producing over 50% of the world's wine and hosting significant cultural landscapes, face threats from climate change and related severe weather events. The summer of 2022, especially July, posed significant challenges due to extreme drought and high temperatures. However, this period also provided an opportunity to study how such events might involve viticulture in Europe and to explore mitigation solutions. OBJECTIVEThe objectives are (1) to characterize the severity of the extreme event of July 2022 in European wine regions regarding primary climatic parameters, (2) map vineyards at risk due to agricultural drought and high land surface temperature, and (3) discuss the role of various water-related interventions for mitigating similar events. METHODSAfter identifying the locations of European vineyards using the Corine Land Cover 2018 (CLC2018), open-access satellite data were employed to: (1) assess anomalies in Maximum Air Temperature (NATm), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Precipitation (P), and Soil Moisture (SM) in July 2022 compared to long-term averages; (2) identify regions at higher risk that experienced extreme agricultural drought (Vegetation Health Index, VHI = Extreme) and LST > 35 °C. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSIn July 2022, European vineyards experienced an average increase of 11% in NATm, a 9% rise in LST, and a reduction of 47% in P and 30% in SM compared to historical averages. 18% of European vineyards were at risk of drought and excessive heat, particularly in Portugal (31%), France (27%), and Italy (21%), including 10 viticultural cultural landscapes. Findings highlight the urgent need for long-term sustainable water management practices over emergency interventions. This research supports informed decision-making, emphasizing that climate resilience is necessary for preserving the cultural heritage of European wine-growing areas. SIGNIFICANCEThis research provides an overview of the dynamics of extreme events on viticulture at a continental scale, promoting climate-aware viticultural systems and offering insight scalable to global viticulture under changing climatic conditions.

Bois noir management in vineyard: a review on effective and promising control strategies.

Among grapevine yellows, Bois noir (BN), associated with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', represents the biggest threat in the main wine-growing areas worldwide, causing significant losses in berry quality and yields. BN epidemiology involves multiple plant hosts and several insect vectors, making considerably complex the development of effective management strategies. Since application of insecticides on the grapevine canopy is not effective to manage vectors, BN management includes an integrated approach based on treatments to the canopy to make the plant more resistant to the pathogen and/or inhibit the vector feeding, and actions on reservoir plants to reduce possibilities that the vector reaches the grapevine and transmit the phytoplasma. Innovative sustainable strategies developed in the last twenty years to improve the BN management are reviewed and discussed.

The agroecological potential of clones of Merlot variety

The research presented in this article consists in studying the agroecological potential of the clones of Merlot wine variety (cl. 181, cl. 343, cl. 347, cl. 348, cl. 349) under the conditions of the Mereni wine-growing center, Codru region. The climate changes of recent years have brought more and more challenges to the farmers to study and better understand how high temperatures affect the vine and not only. Increasing variety diversity is an important task that involves both enhancing the quality of selection and improving the varieties themselves. This study presents the results of a research on a series of clones of Merlot grape variety. The evolution of the main phenological phases of the vine vegetation cycle was directly influenced by the climatic, pedological and topographical conditions of the area. Based on the study, it was found that in the conditions of the Mereni wine-growing area, the Codru Region, the mentioned clones of Merlot wine variety recorded a various level of significance of the difference in the values of the analyzed characters, depending on the year and the clone. The Merlot cl. 347 showed a maximum harvest of 18.08 t/ha. The Merlot cl. 348 showed a maximum sugar content of 264.5 g/dm3. The Merlot cl. 347 showed a minimum content of titratable acidity of 8.32 g/dm3.

Vertebrate damage to Azorean vineyards: the role of the endemic Azores Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica.

In the Azores, complaints about grape loss to birds have become recurrent. Although winegrowers frequently blame the endemic Azores Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica, data about the magnitude of grape damage and the species responsible for them are lacking. This study provides detailed information about grape damage caused by vertebrates on Pico Island, home to the main wine-growing area of the region. Vineyards were monitored during the ripening period in 2017 and 2018. Damage was assessed by determining the number of plucked, pecked and bitten grapes for a total of 850 bunches. Camera traps were placed in 113 enclosures providing detection and consumption rates of vertebrate species. GLM analysis was performed to test the effect of grape variety, distance to the woods, year and time before harvest on grape damage and consumption events. Damage was estimated at 10.3% (± 0.9) in 2017 and 8.7% (± 0.9) in 2018 and mostly consisted of plucked grapes. Ten vertebrate species were detected consuming grapes. Overall, 524 consumption events were registered. The Madeira lizard Teira dugesii, the Azores Blackbird Turdus merula azorensis and rodents (rats Rattus sp. and the house mouse Mus musculus) were responsible for most of those events. The Azores Woodpigeon accounted for three consumption events. GLM analysis showed that damage was greater in vines adjacent to woods and lower in traditional white varieties. This study constitutes an important baseline for the implementation of efficient measures to mitigate grape predation and sheds light on the minor role of the Azores Woodpigeon in grape damage.

Uvological characteristics of local grapevine varieties: Smederevka and Zametovka

Research of uvological characteristics is one of the obligatory steps for determination of general production and technological value of grapevine varieties. Such research is particularly recommended for local varieties that did not previously show sat?isfying characteristics necessary for production of high-quality wine. Local grapevine varieties Smederevka (white wine variety) and Zametovka (red wine variety) have mostly served for production of low-quality wine in the past. With changes in the manner of pro?duction in the sense of focus on high-quality wine and production of wine with geograph?ical indications, vineyards planted with these varieties in Serbia have mostly been grubbed up. However, due to the characteristic and favourable terroir conditions, they have survived in the Trstenik wine-growing district (subregion within the Tri Morave wine-growing re?gion). With the aim of determining uvological characteristics of these two varieties in current climate conditions that are favourable for these high-yield varieties, this paper examines the mechanical composition of grape bunches (bunch weight, number of berries, stem weight), mechanical composition of berries (weight of 100 berries, weight of skin of 100 berries, weight of mesocarp of 100 berries and weight of seeds of 100 berries), as well as grape must characteristics (sugar content and total acids in grape must) of representative genotypes of local varieties Smederevka and Zametovka in production vineyards in the Trstenik wine-growing district. Research results have shown that uvological characteristics of these varieties are slightly better in comparison with previous research carried out in other wine-growing areas, that is, in comparison with general information from literature, which indicates the necessity for further research of these varieties in different agro-eco?logical conditions.

Classification of sustainability potential of genetic resources of local grapevine varieties in Serbia

The starting point for every viticultural and wine-producing country with respect to local grapevine varieties is their identification, inventory, preservation and development of genetic resources of those varieties. There are currently 224 grapevine va?rieties cultivated in Serbia for the purpose of commercial production of grapes and wine. Out of that number, 31 wine varieties are local. Vineyards under those varieties can be dif?ferentiated by their importance for production of grapes and wine, and by the level of their endangerment, that is, sustainability in conditions caused by climate changes. This paper presents the creation, that is, the modeling of the Method for Vineyard Sustainability Clas?wine grapevine varieties on grounds of their endangerment and sustainability, based on 20 examined and categorized individual vineyard sustainability parameters; to carry out comsification (MVSC). The purpose of MVSC classification is: to valorize vineyards with local prehensive classification into one of the four established vineyard sustainability classes (Class A - very endangered vineyards, Class B - endangered vineyards, Class C - sustainable vineyards and Class D - very sustainable vineyards); spatial identification and presentation of vineyards based on determined vineyard sustainability class through application of GIS technology; and finally, application of Network Analysis (NA), prioritization of examined parameters and, therefore, vineyards. A total of 10,402 vineyards under local grapevine wine varieties were used for modeling, and it was determined that 29 vineyards with the total surface of 1.2 hectares should be classified in Class A, while 2,883 vineyards with the total surface of 158.2 hectares should be classified in Class B. With respect to the strength of 20 individual vineyard sustainability parameters, it was determined that the parameter Structure of the vine rootstock (SVR) has the greatest impact, and priority in selection of vineyards in different sustainability classes should be given to vineyards without rootstocks. In accordance with the scientific justification of obtained results, the MVSC enables comprehensive clas?sification of the potential for sustainability of genetic resources of local grapevine varieties in Serbia, and it can be applied in other countries and wine-growing areas, as well as to other groups of grapevine varieties.

RESEARCH ON THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE RURAL AREA OF ȘIMNICU DE SUS BY GROWING VINES

The specific ecological conditions of the cultivation area can positively or negatively influence the quality of grape production, a fact expressed by the specificity of the wine-growing area.. The knowledge of particularities determined by the pedoclimatic conditions is important for elaborating and supporting the viticultural technical activities. The present study carried out in the corural area of Șimnicu de Sus aimed to demonstrate the favorability of the area for the culture of vines, to obtain quality productions with the aim of encouraging the development of this economic activity, in this peri-urban area with residents who need to obtain some additional gain

First report of grapevine Flavescence dorée phytoplasma in the Czech Republic.

Viticulture is a traditional branch of agriculture in the Czech Republic. Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) are cultivated on more than 18,000 hectares in the wine-growing regions of Bohemia and South Moravia. South Moravia alone accounts for more than 90 % of the total wine-growing area in the country. Grapevine yellows are a complex of diseases associated with the phytoplasma presence. Phytoplasmas of at least five different groups can cause similar symptoms in grapevines, and they can be distinguished only on a molecular basis (EPPO 2016). One of them, the grapevine Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (GFDP), which belongs to the 16SrV group, is listed in Annex II, Part B, of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 as a Union quarantine pest known to occur in the Union territory. Official surveys for GFDP in the Czech Republic have been carried out since 2007. In 2016, the first occurrence of Scaphoideus titanus Ball, 1932, the main vector of GFDP, was reported in the South Moravian Region (EPPO Reporting Service 2016). This is a matter of concern because it indicates that there is a risk of disease dissemination to other geographical locations. In September 2021, a total of 250 samples of V. vinifera (preferentially focused on symptomatic plants) and four samples of the wild plant host Clematis vitalba L. were collected from 50 vineyards in South Moravia. Total DNA was extracted using High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit (Roche, Basel, Switzerland). For phytoplasma screening, a real-time PCR test for generic detection of phytoplasmas was used (Christensen et al. 2004). Samples evaluated as positive were further tested by PCR using phytoplasma universal P1 and P7 primers (Deng and Hiruki 1991; Schneider et al. 1995), followed by nested PCR using the 16SrV group-specific primers fB1 and rULWS1 (Smart et al. 1996). For identification of 16SrV phytoplasma, sequence analysis of the secY-map genetic locus was performed. Two sets of primers were used: FD9f5/MAPr1 primers for the first PCR and FD9f6/MAPr2 for the nested PCR (Arnaud et al. 2007) with PCRBIO TaqMix (PCR Biosystems, London, UK). The nested PCR products were purified and sequenced (Eurofins Genomics, Ebersberg, Germany). The sequences were compared with sequences from the GenBank database. Phytoplasma of the 16SrV group was detected in three samples: V. vinifera cv. Gewürztraminer with symptoms of leaf reddening with no rolling and no other typical symptoms; C. vitalba L. with leaf curling (Fig. 1A); symptomless C. vitalba. The obtained sequences of the secY-map locus of all three 16SrV-positive samples were identical to the sequence of GFDP, isolate Vv-SI257 (Acc. No. FN811141), detected in grapevine in Tuscany (Italy), which belongs to 16SrV group. The sequence of the V. vinifera cv. Gewürztraminer isolate was submitted to GenBank under Acc. No. OQ185203. This isolate belongs to the Map-FD3 cluster (Fig. 1B), and the genotype identified is M51 (corresponding to FD-C), which has already been found in C. vitalba and outbreaks of Flavescence dorée in grapevines in some other European countries (Malembic-Maher et al. 2020). Based on the abovementioned results, this is the first report of the GFDP in the Czech Republic.

Increase in breeding bird abundance and diversity with semi-natural habitat in vineyard landscapes.

Agricultural expansion and intensification are major threats to biodiversity, and even some once common farmland bird species are now endangered. Wine-growing landscapes are intensively managed but can still be an attractive habitat for a wide range of species. However, only few bird species breed within vineyards and thus, semi-natural habitat types like hedges, woodland patches and grasslands are crucial for bird populations. We investigated how birds breeding in wine-growing areas are influenced by the surrounding landscape at three spatial scales: territories, sampling transects and landscapes. In the German wine growing region Palatinate, sixteen landscapes with a radius of 500 m were chosen spanning a gradient in the cover of semi-natural habitat. Bird territories were mapped along three transects of 500 m length in each landscape. We found 300 territories of 33 bird species. Positive effects of semi-natural habitat cover on birds were strongest at the transect scale, with almost proportional increase of species and territory numbers with the cover of semi-natural habitat. Most bird species selected territories that contained more semi-natural habitat than the landscape-wide average of 13.5%, but e.g. woodlark and linnet showed an opposite preference. In addition, the birds' community composition was influenced by the composition of the surrounding landscape. Most species were associated with semi-natural habitat types or built-up areas while vineyards had hardly any species associated with them. Our results suggest that in wine-growing landscapes, the decline in farmland birds can be reversed by the re-establishment of hedges, trees, woodland patches, traditional orchards and grassland areas. However, as preferences at the territory scale were species-specific, there is no uniform best solution for bird conservation in viticultural landscapes. Thus, landscape development should always be accompanied by experts that take the demands of existing and potential breeding birds into account.

A review of history and geographical distribution of grapevine moths in Italian vineyards in light of climate change: Looking backward to face the future

Tortricid and pyralid moths include important pests of vineyards. This review offers a retrospective analysis of the geographic distribution expansion of the European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and the replacement or marginalization of the importance of the previously largely vine-infesting species, i.e., Sparganothis pilleriana (Denis & Schiffermüller) and Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hübner), because of the combination and interaction between climate change, invasive alien species, and new cultivation techniques. Herein, we have focused on the case study of Italy, which is currently representing the fourth largest country in the world in terms of cultivated wine-growing area, and the biggest producer of wine grapes, as a model to analyze the possible influence of climate change on the occurrence and harmfulness of grapevine moths and what will be the next challenges for their sustainable management. Starting from the retrospective analysis and learned lessons, a research agenda outlining future challenges for IPM of grapevine moth pests in Mediterranean countries is developed.

Differences in Aroma Profile of Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes and Wines from Four Plots in Jieshi Mountain Region of Eastern China.

The Bohai Bay region is a famous wine-growing area in China, where the rainfall is concentrated in the summer due to the influence of the temperate semi-humid monsoon climate. As such, the vineyard terrain has a significant impact on the flavor quality of the grapes and the resulting wines. To explore the relationship between the 'Cabernet Sauvignon' wine style and terrain, this study takes four different plots in the Jieshi Mountain region to investigate the differences in the aroma profile of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines of two consecutive vintages. Based on two-way ANOVA, there were 25 free and 8 glycosylated aroma compounds in the grapes and 21 and 10 aroma compounds with an odor activity value greater than 0.1 in the wines at the end of alcohol fermentation (AF) and malolactic fermentation (MLF), respectively, that varied among the four plots. Wines from the four plots showed a significant difference in floral and fruity aroma attributes, which were mainly related to esters with high odor activity values. The difference in concentration of these compounds between plots was more pronounced in 2021 than in 2020, and a similar result was shown on the Shannon-Wiener index, which represents wine aroma diversity. It has been suggested that high rainfall makes the plot effect more pronounced. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that concentrations of (E)-3-hexen-1-ol in grapes and ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, isopentanoic acid, and phenethyl acetate in wines were strongly positively correlated with the concentrations of N, P, K, Fe, and electrical conductivity in soil but negatively correlated with soil pH. This study laid a theoretical foundation for further improving the level of vineyard management and grape and wine quality in the Jieshi Mountain region.

Myo-Inositol, Scyllo-Inositol, and Other Minor Carbohydrates as Authenticity Markers for the Control of Italian Bulk, Concentrate, and Rectified Grape Must.

Myo-inositol polyalcohol is a characteristic component of natural and concentrated grape musts (CMs), and Regulation (EU) no. 1308/2013 prescribes its presence as a marker of the authenticity of rectified concentrated must (RCM). Other polyalcohols besides myo-inositol, such as scyllo-inositol or minor sugars, could be considered authenticity markers, but an extensive search in the literature yielded no exhaustively investigated study of their concentration variability in genuine products. The aim of this study was to create an extensive national data bank of minor carbohydrates profiles and investigate the impact of the geographical origin and the different vintages on the concentration of these compounds; to this end, 450 authentic Italian grape musts of different varieties were sampled and analyzed during the harvest season in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The grape musts from the Italian wine-growing areas CII and CIIIb had myo- and scyllo-inositol contents always higher than 756 and 39 mg/kg of sugar, respectively. Conversely, also considering other mono- and disaccharides, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, maltose, and isomaltose showed contents always lower than 534, 1207, 390, 2222, and 1639 mg/kg of sugar, respectively. The general applicability to the CM and RCM of the proposed authenticity thresholds, established in the must, was demonstrated by studying the influence of must concentration on the myo- and scyllo-inositol content. Inter-laboratory comparison experiments were also conducted to harmonize and characterize laboratory methods and validate the analytical dataset. Based on the obtained results, the text of the EU legislation (Reg. (EU) 1308/2013), which defines the characteristics of the must and the CRM product, should be revised.

The deterrent ability of Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus laumondii compounds as a potential novel tool for Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) management

The grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a critical pest for vineyards and causes significant economic losses in wine-growing areas worldwide. Identifying and developing novel semiochemical cues (e.g. volatile bacterial compounds) which modify the ovipositional and trophic behaviour of L. botrana in vineyard fields could be a novel control alternative in viticulture. Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp. are becoming one of the best-studied bacterial species due to their potential interest in producing toxins and deterrent factors. In this study, we investigated the effect of the deterrent compounds produced by Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus laumondii on the ovipositional moth behaviour and the larval feeding preference of L. botrana. Along with the in-vitro bioassays performed, we screened the potential use of 3 d cell-free bacterial supernatants and 3 and 5 d unfiltered bacterial ferments. In addition, we tested two application systems: (i) contact application of the bacterial compounds and (ii) volatile bacterial compounds application. Our findings indicate that the deterrent effectiveness varied with bacterial species, the use of bacterial cell-free supernatants or unfiltered fermentation product, and the culture times. Grapes soaked in the 3 d X. nematophila and P. laumondii ferments had ∼ 55% and ∼ 95% fewer eggs laid than the control, respectively. Likewise, the volatile compounds emitted by the 5 d P. laumondii fermentations resulted in ∼ 100% avoidance of L. botrana ovipositional activity for three days. Furthermore, both bacterial fermentation products have larval feeding deterrent effects (∼65% of the larva chose the control grapes), and they significantly reduced the severity of damage caused by third instar larva in treated grapes. This study provides insightful information about a novel bacteria-based tool which can be used as an eco-friendly and economical alternative in both organic and integrated control of L. botrana in vineyard.

Sex Pheromone Aerosol Emitters for Lobesia botrana Mating Disruption in Italian Vineyards

Despite the great amount of information on the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and the effective strategies available for its management, this moth remains the main key pest damaging grapevines in the Mediterranean and Central Europe wine-growing areas. Synthesizing and manipulating its sex pheromone components fostered the development of new dispensers to boost the effectiveness and sustainability of mating disruption (MD) programs. Recent MD research has highlighted that the effectiveness of aerosol emitters is comparable to that of passive dispensers when applied in large, uniform sites such as Spanish vineyards. However, aerosol emitters that are equally effective in geographical areas characterized by small-sized vineyards, typical of many Italian regions, have not received enough research attention. To face this challenge, herein the experimental aerosol emitter (product code: Isonet® L MISTERX843) was tested at three different application rates (i.e., 2, 3 and 4 units/ha) in three study sites, two in Tuscany (Central Italy in 2017 and 2018) and one in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy in 2017), respectively, for a total of five trials. To assess the efficacy of this novel MD aerosol emitter, three different application densities were compared with an untreated control and two grower's standards. The latter were represented by passive (Isonet® L TT) and active (Checkmate® Puffer® LB) release dispensers, already on the market for EGVM MD and applied at, respectively, 200-300 and 2.5-4 units/ha. MD carried out with Isonet® L MISTERX843 led to zero catches of males in the pheromone traps. They also allowed for a significant reduction in the number of infested flower clusters and bunches, as well as in the number of nests per flowers cluster/bunch, if compared to the untreated control. As a general trend, MD effectiveness was fully comparable, or even better, if compared to the grower's standard. In conclusion, our research pointed out that the Isonet® L MISTERX843 can allow for effective EGVM management in small-sized Italian vineyards. Lastly, our economic evaluation showed that the MD whole cost per hectare using active or passive release devices was comparable.

Variability in the Agronomic Behavior of 12 White Grapevine Varieties Grown under Severe Water Stress Conditions in the La Mancha Wine Region

Viticulture around the world is currently affected by climate change, which is causing an increasing scarcity of water resources necessary for the maintenance of vineyards. Despite the drought hardiness of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), this threat seriously compromises its cultivation in the near future, particularly in wine-growing areas with a semi-arid climate. Identifying varieties capable of producing suitable yields and good-quality grapes under drought conditions is integral to ensuring the sustainability of the wine sector. This study focuses on vines from both minority and widely grown varieties, which were supplied only with the water intended to ensure their survival. The carbon and oxygen isotope ratios, yield, and quality parameters were evaluated on the vines and musts during the period of 2018–2020. The results revealed that not all varieties responded equally well to drought. Albillo Real, Coloraillo, Macabeo, and Verdejo adapted well to drought conditions, simultaneously maintaining high yields and must quality. By contrast, Pedro Ximénez can be considered poorly adapted. This variety was the one that produced the lowest yield and had low acidity levels in the must.

Optimization of SAW Sensors for Nanoplastics and Grapevine Virus Detection

In this work, we report the parametric optimization of surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay lines on Lithium niobate for environmental monitoring applications. First, we show that the device performance can be improved by acting opportunely on geometrical design parameters of the interdigital transducers such as the number of finger pairs, the finger overlap length and the distance between the emitter and the receiver. Then, the best-performing configuration is employed to realize SAW sensors. As aerosol particulate matter (PM) is a major threat, we first demonstrate a capability for the detection of polystyrene particles simulating nanoparticulates/nanoplastics, and achieve a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 ng, beyond the present state-of-the-art. Next, the SAW sensors were used for the first time to implement diagnostic tools able to detect Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), one of the most widespread viruses in wine-growing areas, outperforming electrochemical impedance sensors thanks to a five-times better LOD. These two proofs of concept demonstrate the ability of miniaturized SAW sensors for carrying out on-field monitoring campaigns and their potential to replace the presently used heavy and expensive laboratory instrumentation.

VITICULTURE IN SERBIA/ROMANIAN BORDER ZONE

Total length of the Republic of Serbia border is 2351.8 km, from which border zone length between Republic of Serbia and Romania is 546.5 km. According to wine-growing areas zoning in the Republic of Serbia, three wine-growing areas are defined: Central Serbia, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. Vojvodina area in the border zone include South Banat region with two sub-regions: Vršački and Belocrkvanski, while in Central Serbia area, also in the border zone, there is Mlava Region with three sub-regions: Braničevsko, Požarevačko and Resavsko and region of Negotinska Krajina with four sub-regions: Ključko, Brzopalanačko, Mihajlovačko and Negotinsko. In South Banat region, under vineyards are 1730 ha, of which is 1567 ha under wine and 163 ha under table varieties. This region is characterized with flat landscape dominated by the Vršac Mountains in central part. The dominant soil types are vertisol and chernozem. Grape and wine production is characterized by small family farms with high-intensive plantations. In varietal composition are dominant international and new created white wine varieties such as: Sauvignon blanc, Semyon, Riesling white, Riesling Italien, Chardonay, Kreaca, Muscat otonel, Rkaciteli, Smederevka and Župljanka, and from red wine varieties: Pinot noir, Portugizac and Limberger. In Mlava region under vineyards are 814,7 ha. Dominant are wine varieties. In this region climate is specific under natural borders: Carpathian mountain system and Danube, Mlava and Pek river. This region is characterized with both, traditional and modern grape growing technology. The region of Negotinska Krajina is located in east part of Serbia and cover area of ​​978 ha, from which is 890 ha are under wine and 88 ha under table varieties. Climate conditioned of this region is affected by the Carpathian mountain system and Danube river. Vertisol, eutric cambisol and sandy soils are present in most vineyards. The region of Negotinska Krajina is characterized with traditional grapes production at small family wineries. This region is famouse by autochthonous varieties: Prokupac, Bagrina, Tamjanika crna, Začinak, Smederevka and Plovdina.