Sustainable Viticulture

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2020) | Viewed by 29942

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment, and Cultural Heritage, University of Basilicata, 75100 Matera, Italy
Interests: viticulture; drought and heat response; grapevine physiology; phenotyping; grapevine canopy and soil management; grapevine rootstocks

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The viticulture (and in turn the wine sector) is a relevant agricultural industry, nowadays threatened by several environmental and economic constraints. Hence, the improvement and progress of the viticulture industry might help one to face these constraints, ensuring economic viability and natural resources conservation. This Special Issue aims to be an updated knowledge platform addressing the environmental and socio-economic components of sustainability.

Researchers are warmly invited to submit research covering (but not limited to) vineyard establishment and management, grapevine ecophysiology, and economics.

Contributions are expected to report on soil fertility, training systems and canopy optimization, soil–climate–rootstock–variety interactions, precision farming, ecology, irrigation and mineral nutrition, plant protection, water relation and abiotic/biotic stress physiology, yield and grape quality, and root–soil organism interactions.

Prof. Vitale Nuzzo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Soil fertility
  • Soil organic matter
  • Soil—rootstocks interactions
  • Roots–soil micro-organisms interactions
  • Carbon and water footprint
  • Vineyard management
  • Training systems
  • Canopy and soil management
  • Climatic constraints
  • Water and mineral nutrition
  • Biotic or abiotic stress physiology
  • Yield and grape quality
  • Pests and disease control
  • Cultivation costs

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 560 KiB  
Article
Polyphenols and Resveratrol from Discarded Leaf Biomass of Grapevine (Vitis sp.): Effect of Cultivar and Viticultural Practices in Estonia
by Reelika Rätsep, Kadri Karp, Mariana Maante-Kuljus, Alar Aluvee and Rajeev Bhat
Agriculture 2020, 10(9), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10090393 - 4 Sep 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3287
Abstract
Grapevine leaves are a major by-product of viticulture practices derived from the leaf-removal from the fruit cluster zone in all vine growing regions. These leaves can be a valuable source of antioxidants to be used in pharmaceuticals or other health-related products. In this [...] Read more.
Grapevine leaves are a major by-product of viticulture practices derived from the leaf-removal from the fruit cluster zone in all vine growing regions. These leaves can be a valuable source of antioxidants to be used in pharmaceuticals or other health-related products. In this study, the leaves of grapevine cultivars were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph-diode array detector () for the total polyphenols (TPC) and resveratrol affected by cultivar, leaf-removal time and viticultural practice. The effect of cultivar varied yearly, European grapevine cv. ‘Regent’ had increased TPC and resveratrol in comparison to ‘Boskoop’s Glory’, ‘Rondo’ and ‘Solaris’ in 2017, but ‘Solaris’ in 2018. TPC (1213–1841 mg 100 g−1) and resveratrol (1.061 mg 100 g−1) were higher in leaves of interspecific hybrid cvs. ‘Zilga’ and ‘Hasansky Sladky’ during full fruit ripeness. Cv. ‘Rondo’ grown under the polytunnel had decreased TPC in leaves. In conclusion, cultivar selection, viticultural practice and leaf-removal time contribute significantly to the accumulation of total polyphenols and resveratrol. Results of this study will contribute to better utilization of biomass produced in the vineyards, help to decrease the negative environmental impacts, and provide an overview on various factors affecting the biochemical constituents, especially in leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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9 pages, 231 KiB  
Article
Who Is Afraid of Biotic Threats? An Econometric Analysis of Veneto Wine Grape Farmers’ Propensity to Insure
by Laura Onofri, Samuele Trestini and Vasco Boatto
Agriculture 2020, 10(8), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10080336 - 6 Aug 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2565
Abstract
This paper aims at understanding what affects farmers’ choices to buy insurance against biotic threats. Using a survey-based dataset with 1187 observations on Veneto wine grapes farms, we regress a probit model with endogenous variables with a maximum likelihood (ML) routine. The results [...] Read more.
This paper aims at understanding what affects farmers’ choices to buy insurance against biotic threats. Using a survey-based dataset with 1187 observations on Veneto wine grapes farms, we regress a probit model with endogenous variables with a maximum likelihood (ML) routine. The results corroborate the microeconomic theory according to which risk-adverse individuals are more propense to insure. In our framework, the farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics are treated as endogenous variables, which exist/are predetermined before the choice to insure (or not). This paper discusses the results in a policy perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
19 pages, 14023 KiB  
Article
Development of a Low-Cost Semantic Monitoring System for Vineyards Using Autonomous Robots
by Abhijeet Ravankar, Ankit A. Ravankar, Michiko Watanabe, Yohei Hoshino and Arpit Rawankar
Agriculture 2020, 10(5), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10050182 - 21 May 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5556
Abstract
Many tasks involved in viticulture are labor intensive. Farmers frequently monitor the vineyard to check grape conditions, damage due to infections from pests and insects, grape growth, and to estimate optimal harvest time. Such monitoring is often done manually by the farmers. Manual [...] Read more.
Many tasks involved in viticulture are labor intensive. Farmers frequently monitor the vineyard to check grape conditions, damage due to infections from pests and insects, grape growth, and to estimate optimal harvest time. Such monitoring is often done manually by the farmers. Manual monitoring of large vineyards is time and labor consuming process. To this end, robots have a big potential to increase productivity in farms by automating various tasks. We propose a low-cost semantic monitoring system for vineyards using autonomous robots. The system uses inexpensive cameras, processing boards, and sensors to remotely provide timely information to the farmers on their computer and smart phone. Unlike traditional systems, the proposed system logs data ‘semantically’, which enables pin-pointed monitoring of vineyards. In other words, the farmers can monitor only specific areas of the vineyard as desired. The proposed algorithm is robust for occlusions, and intelligently logs image data based on the movement of the robot. The proposed system was tested in actual vineyards with real robots. Due to its compactness and portability, the proposed system can be used as an extension in conjunction with already existing autonomous robot systems used in vineyards. The results show that pin-pointed remote monitoring of desired areas of the vineyard is a very useful and inexpensive tool for the farmers to save a lot of time and labor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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13 pages, 665 KiB  
Article
Effect of Vintage and Viticultural Practices on the Phenolic Content of Hybrid Winegrapes in Very Cool Climate
by Mariana Maante-Kuljus, Reelika Rätsep, Ulvi Moor, Leila Mainla, Priit Põldma, Angela Koort and Kadri Karp
Agriculture 2020, 10(5), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10050169 - 14 May 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3195
Abstract
Vine growing and wine production is gaining in popularity around the Baltic Sea Region. The first aim of the experiment was to determine the variability of the total phenolic and anthocyanin content (from 2010 to 2018) and of individual anthocyanin content (from 2016 [...] Read more.
Vine growing and wine production is gaining in popularity around the Baltic Sea Region. The first aim of the experiment was to determine the variability of the total phenolic and anthocyanin content (from 2010 to 2018) and of individual anthocyanin content (from 2016 to 2018) in the hybrid grape cultivars ‘Hasansky Sladky’, ‘Zilga’, and ‘Rondo’. In field conditions ‘Rondo’ had winter cold damage to canes in two years. Therefore, the second aim was to determine the effect of high polyethylene tunnel and field conditions on fruit total and individual anthocyanin content of ‘Rondo’ from 2016 to 2018. Over nine years, the total phenolic content ranged from 192 to 671 mg 100 g−1 and anthocyanins from 30 to 405 mg 100 g−1 spectrophotometrically. The anthocyanin (delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin-3-O-glucoside) content depended on cultivar properties and climatic parameters. Antioxidant activity was cultivar dependent and ranged from 40 to 88%. Polytunnel cultivation increased the content of total anthocyanins in ‘Rondo’ from 447 to 1472 mg 100 g−1 (by chromatographically) in cooler year, but in warmer years it decreased from 3645 to 1618 mg 100 g−1. Individual anthocyanins showed the same tendency. Grapevine cultivar ‘Rondo’ is recommended for tunnel growing in very cool climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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11 pages, 3007 KiB  
Article
Field Testing of a Biomass-Fueled Flamer for In-Row Weed Control in the Vineyard
by Gianfranco Pergher, Rino Gubiani and Matia Mainardis
Agriculture 2019, 9(10), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9100210 - 24 Sep 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5284
Abstract
Concern about the adverse effects of chemicals on the environment and on human health, and increasing restrictions of herbicide use, have led to a renewed interest in non-chemical weed control, particularly under the row of vineyards. A new, biomass-fueled (wood pellet), flaming prototype [...] Read more.
Concern about the adverse effects of chemicals on the environment and on human health, and increasing restrictions of herbicide use, have led to a renewed interest in non-chemical weed control, particularly under the row of vineyards. A new, biomass-fueled (wood pellet), flaming prototype (CS Thermos, San Vendemiano, TV) was tested in the vineyard during Spring–Summer 2018, and compared with tillage (disc cultivator, weeder blade, and finger blade) and mowing (in-row, vine-skipping mower). Efficacy (in % of weed biomass removed or killed) and re-growth between two applications (in g dry biomass/m2) were assessed for each treatment at two sampling locations (between the vines, and around the vines). Flaming resulted in greater efficacy of weed removal in comparison to tillage (blade weeder) and mowing, both between the vines (64%–75% versus 44%–68%, and 40%–68%, respectively) and around the vines (56%–78%, 39%–46%, and 37%–48%, respectively). However, five applications of tillage significantly reduced total weed growth until 27 July (by 26%) between vines in comparison to three applications of flaming, while no significant differences were found around vines. Such findings suggest that more frequent applications of flaming may be needed to give average weed control comparable to that of tillage, while improving it close to the vine trunks. Advantages and disadvantages of the prototype versus tillage and mowing, and versus conventional, LPG-fueled flamers are discussed in the paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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Review

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14 pages, 2270 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Arthropod Management in Quebec Vineyards
by Charles Vincent and Jacques Lasnier
Agriculture 2020, 10(4), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10040091 - 27 Mar 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4077
Abstract
In Quebec (Canada), viticulture is practiced at the fringe of what is known as a cool climate area. Quebec has a very recent history of viticultural entomology as the first artisanal permit for wine making was issued by the Quebec Government in 1985, [...] Read more.
In Quebec (Canada), viticulture is practiced at the fringe of what is known as a cool climate area. Quebec has a very recent history of viticultural entomology as the first artisanal permit for wine making was issued by the Quebec Government in 1985, and the first formal research project about arthropods associated with vineyards was initiated in 1997. The Quebec viticultural industry has consistently developed over ca. 35 years and, given the prospects of global warming, warmer abiotic conditions will allow to cultivate cultivars of better oenological value. Meanwhile, some invasive species that recently arrived in Quebec are causing concerns because they are threatening the sustainability of pest management programs. In this article, we will review of the evolution of entomological research in Quebec vineyards. We will then treat technology transfer activities that allowed to translate research results into protection programs. Finally, we will discuss new and coming entomological problems that are challenging the sustainability of pest management programs in Quebec vineyards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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Other

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12 pages, 1036 KiB  
Technical Note
Leaf-to-Fruit Ratios in Vitis vinifera L. cv. “Sauvignon Blanc”, “Carmenère”, “Cabernet Sauvignon”, and “Syrah” Growing in Maule Valley (Chile): Influence on Yield and Fruit Composition
by Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa, Irina Díaz-Galvéz, Nicolás Verdugo-Vásquez and Yerko Moreno-Simunovic
Agriculture 2019, 9(8), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9080176 - 9 Aug 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5108
Abstract
A trial was conducted during the 2005–2006 season in order to determine the effects of different leaf-to-fruit ratios on yield components and fruit composition in four Vitis vinifera L. cultivars. The treatments consisted of selecting shoots of four lengths (>1.3 m, 1.3–0.8 m, [...] Read more.
A trial was conducted during the 2005–2006 season in order to determine the effects of different leaf-to-fruit ratios on yield components and fruit composition in four Vitis vinifera L. cultivars. The treatments consisted of selecting shoots of four lengths (>1.3 m, 1.3–0.8 m, 0.8–0.4 m, and <0.4 m) with two crop levels (1–2 clusters/shoot), which allowed defining eight ratios. Berry composition and yield components were measured. The treatments affected the accumulation of soluble solids in “Sauvignon blanc”, “Cabernet Sauvignon”, and “Syrah”, delaying it as the ratio decreased. All yield components were affected in “Sauvignon blanc”, while bunch weight and the number of berries per bunch were altered without a clear trend. None of the yield components were affected in “Cabernet Sauvignon”, while the lowest ratio presented the lowest number of berries per bunch in “Syrah”. Total polyphenol index (TPI) was affected in “Carmenère” without a clear trend. A highly significant correlation was found between shoot length and leaf area in all studied cultivars. As the ratio increased, the shoot lignification increased in “Sauvignon blanc”. However, studies must be conducted during more seasons to establish better conclusions about the effects of leaf-to-fruit ratios on yield and fruit composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture)
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