Different vineyard management practices: agronomic responses and consequences on must quality

Background and AimsGlobal warming has repercussions on vine phenology and physiology, with consequences affecting yield and berry composition. In order to counteract negative effects, it is necessary to improve the knowledge on genetic aspects as well as vineyard management.The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of different Vitis genotypes to several agronomic practices, such as water management, the application of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) as well as leaf removal, all of which influence the ripening process.Methods and ResultsTwo experiments were carried out. In the first one, conducted in Sardinia (Italy), different strategies of water stress and exogenous ABA application were tested on three red grapevine cultivars. In the second trial, carried out in Australia, a leaf removal treatment, performed post-veraison, was compared with no defoliation treatment on two grapevine cultivars.ConclusionsWater stress response is cultivar-dependent. No significant effect or interactions were observed by applying exogenous ABA.Leaf defoliation above the bunch zone reduced sugar accumulation rate in the berries, causing a delay in harvest of 24 days, although observed only in one of the two investigated varieties.Significant of studyThis study points out the importance of the deep knowledge of the genetic background of each specific cultivar, highlighting how the different cultivation techniques can play a fundamental role in influencing the berry maturation.