Leaf Removal at Véraison and Foliar K+ Application to Beibinghong Vines Improved Berry Quality under Cold-Climate Conditions

(1) Background: Beibinghong is a grapevine variety that is well distributed in Northeastern China due to its adaptation to extreme cold conditions and vine diseases. Nonetheless, Beibinghong wines are extremely acidic and rich in phenolic compounds. The aim of this research was to study the effects of leaf removal at véraison and foliar K+ applications on Beibinghong vines to reduce the acidity and increase their polyphenol content. (2) Methods: Beibinghong berries were harvested when they reached close to 20 °Brix, and the physicochemical parameters were determined. (3) Results: Leaf removal at véraison plus K+ foliar applications to Beibinghong vines decreased the titratable acidity and increased the total phenolic and phenolic acid contents compared with the control. Moreover, the titratable acidity in the Beibinghong berries was negatively related to their total contents of phenols, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. (4) Conclusions: Leaf removal at véraison performed with foliar K+ applications to vines could be an interesting alternative for Beibinghong production under cold-climate viticulture because it allows for a decrease in the acidity and an increase in the phenolic content of the berries, without incurring the risk of sunburn.

New insights into Viticulture, Enology and Vitivinicultural Economy: Ciência e Técnica Vitivinícola 2021

New insights into Viticulture, Enology and Vitivinicultural Economy arise from the fourteen articles published by the Ciência e Técnica Vitivinícola in 2021. Research carried out by several international teams covered a wide range of topics that seek to respond to current main challenges: chemical, morphological and anatomical features of the grapevine cultivars explored to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses; seaweed foliar application to grapevines as an innovative and integrated vineyard management technique; nutritional management of grapevine cultivars under cold climate conditions and under water constraint scenarios; viability and cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic solar energy for wineries; viticultural technologies and the food safety of wine; characterization of grapes and methods for juice production; chemical composition of grape seeds; development of analytical and sensory methodologies; portrait of the wine spirits sector in Portugal and its recent evolution.

Influence of water scarcity on macronutrients contents in young leaves of wine grape cultivars

This study aimed to determine the variability of plant nutrition content in two-year old local and well-known wine grape cultivars under different water constraint scenarios. Own rooted and potted eight grapevine cultivars (cv. ‘Adakarası’, ‘Papazkarası’, ‘Karasakız’, ‘Karalahana’, ‘Yapıncak’, ‘Vasilaki’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’) were subjected to five irrigation treatments (100% daily irrigation of available water capacity (AWC), 75% irrigation of AWC, 50% irrigation of AWC, 25% irrigation of AWC, and no irrigation for 0% treatment) for two consecutive years during vegetative growth (May – late September). An increase in nitrogen, potassium and magnesium contents in leaf tissues with decreasing water amount was observed. Similar effect was found for phosphorus and calcium contents. The sulfur concentration in leaf tissues remained almost unchanged. In addition, the variability of genetic potential influenced the nutrient intake of the studied cultivars. The ability of grapevine cultivars to cope with the water deficit of the cultivars should definitely be assessed in adaptation strategies developed to make viticulture sustainable under the effects of the climate crisis.