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Societal Impact Statement: Table grape production is a traditional practice in southeastern Spain, where locals have produced fresh grapes and raisins for centuries. Many of these vines are now centenary, and they represent a useful source of diversity for developing future table grape varieties with improved traits. Genetic analysis showed that many of the local varieties identified in this study were traditional varieties from Western Mediterranean countries. Others were not identified, and they might be old grape varieties of previous importance in the region. The conservation and characterization of these varieties could be key to ensuring current and future vineyard sustainability. Summary: Current worldwide table grape production focuses on a reduced number of Vitis vinifera L. varieties. However, traditional farmers have grown many table grape varieties for centuries, as they provided a steady source of fresh fruit and raisins. These ancient living genotypes potentially store a genetic diversity that can be used now to ensure future grape production.Here we focused on the study of grapevines found across Almería, one of the Spanish regions with longer tradition in table grape production. After an exhaustive inspection, we located 220 old (some centenary) vines producing grapes consumed by owners or in abandoned areas no longer devoted to agriculture.Some of these vines were identified by comparing their simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic profiles with available data from international databases. We found that, while grape growers' efforts focused on the cultivation of traditional grape varieties from Western Mediterranean regions, they also cultivated few exogenous varieties if they provided additional fruit features. Other vines were found to have genetic profiles that did not match reference datasets. Interestingly, some of them were found in multiple locations, suggesting they are endangered varieties with some previous relevance in the region. Besides, first‐degree relationships support the autochthonous origin of many of these unidentified genotypes.Locals kept a high number of different grapevine varieties, now considered reservoirs of genetic diversity. Traditional farming practices have been useful to prevent the loss of this diversity, which now needs to be preserved and further studied to contribute to the sustainability of viticultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus on rural landscapes, already present in 'Agenda 2000', is reconfirmed for the CAP 2023–2027 (Green Deal). The CAP programmes have, however, often turned out to be generic and unsuited to the multifaceted reality of Mediterranean Europe, while FAO-GIAHS and UNESCO World Heritage programmes suit large territories. Both, as well as the CAP, support the conservation or renaturalisation of rural landscapes but cannot apply prescriptions at the planning stage. In Italy, the 'Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape' contains prescriptive measures that the regions must include in their Landscape Plan (RLP); the municipalities must then adopt Urban Plans in accordance with the RLP. In Sardinia, RLP has protected the coastal areas (49.6 per cent of the 24,000 km2 surface area of the island) since 2006 but does not provide detailed guidelines for inland areas. We therefore tested the methodology proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture for recovering Historic Rural Landscapes in a study area of 23.63 km2 located in the heart of the island (in Mandrolisai region), where the two rural villages of Atzara and Sorgono border a system of traditional vineyards. Comparison of the 1860–1880 Land Register data, images from the first (1954) and last air flight (2016) shows that the agro-silvo-pastoral system has not changed structurally. In 2016, 53 per cent of the analysed area retains the same land-use macrocategories as the 1954 aerial photographs. Despite wide fluctuations in some agricultural crops, the most characteristic ones tend to occupy the same places, e.g., 72 per cent of 2016 vineyards compared to 1954. The biggest changes have been the transformation of natural pastures into cork oak wooded pastures, due to the sustained demand for cork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate evaluation of grapevine water use is essential for optimizing water management and maximizing grapevine yield and berry quality in Mediterranean climates. Understanding the water and heat flux dynamics in a vineyard during grapevine berry maturation is of utmost importance. This study focuses on evaluating sensible and latent energy fluxes at the canopy, the soil beneath the canopy, and the interrow areas. The primary objective is to develop a model framework for accurately estimating these energy fluxes, contributing to a better understanding of their behavior during berry ripening. The model's accuracy was assessed by comparing the estimated fluxes with those measured by an eddy-covariance system installed at a reference height of three meters in the experimental vineyard. This validation step was essential to confirm the model's ability to capture the intricate energy flux dynamics of the vineyard, especially during grape maturation. The results revealed a high level of agreement between the observed and estimated fluxes, confirming the model's reliability. This comprehensive evaluation of energy fluxes provides valuable insights for optimizing irrigation strategies. By doing so, this study contributes to improving grape quality, ensuring sustainable water resource use, and ultimately enhancing vineyard productivity in arid and water-scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the agriconstruction machinery sector has been involved in a great technological revolution. The reasons that may explain this are strictly connected to the mitigation of climate change. At the same time, there is a necessity to ensure an adequate production level in order to meet the increasing food demand due to the current population growth trend. In this context, the development of autonomously driven agricultural vehicles is one of the areas on which tractor manufacturers and academics are focusing. The fundamental prerequisite for an autonomous driving vehicle is the development of an appropriate motion strategy. Hence, the vehicle will be able to follow predetermined routes, accomplishing its missions. The aim of this study was the development of path-planning and path-following algorithms for an agricultural four-whee differential-drive vehicle operating in vineyard/orchard environments. The algorithms were completely developed within the MATLAB software environment. After a brief description of the geometrical characteristics of the vehicle, a parametric process to build a virtual orchard environment is proposed. Then, the functional principles of the autonomous driving algorithms are shown. Finally, the algorithms are tested, varying their main tuning parameters, and an indicator to quantify the algorithms' efficiency, named relative accuracy, is defined. The results obtained show the strong dependence between the relative accuracy and lookahead distance value assigned to the rover. Furthermore, an analysis of rover positioning errors was performed. The results in this case show a lower influence of the location error when the accuracy of the positioning device is within 2 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensively managed viticulture dominates vast landscapes in the Mediterranean, but considerable vineyard abandonment has been observed over the past two decades. The effect of vineyard abandonment on biodiversity is poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the restoration potential of this common land-use change. We assessed biodiversity responses to vineyard abandonment in Vaucluse, Southern France, using birds as indicator group. We compared bird abundance and diversity in a sample of 64 vineyards, pairing 16 currently managed vineyards with 16 recently abandoned and 16 managed with 16 longer abandoned vineyards. We used mixed models and multivariate techniques to establish relationships between bird diversity and structural attributes of the habitats, and we derived management-specific population densities in a distance sampling approach. Long-abandoned vineyards hosted three times more species and showed a 3.6 times higher total bird abundance than managed viticulture. More recently abandoned vineyards had intermediate species numbers and abundance. Species richness patterns were not modulated by landscape composition and configuration, but higher abundances were found in landscapes with intermediate size of land-cover patches (i.e. field size). In managed vineyards, bird abundances were extremely low, with the exception of Woodlark Lullula arborea , which reached its highest abundance in managed vineyards. The bird community on abandoned vineyards shifted towards forest and woodland shrub species, likely driven by secondary succession, namely shrub encroachment and tree establishment. The strongly positive effects of land abandonment might be due to the fact that only single vineyards (not entire landscapes) were abandoned, thereby increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale. The future state of the old abandoned vineyards is difficult to predict. As of yet, the abandoned vineyards support a comparably diverse community of breeding birds that reach high abundances in comparison to managed vineyards, within an otherwise impoverished agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensively managed viticulture dominates vast landscapes in the Mediterranean, but considerable vineyard abandonment has been observed over the past two decades. The effect of vineyard abandonment on biodiversity is poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the restoration potential of this common land-use change.We assessed biodiversity responses to vineyard abandonment in Vaucluse, Southern France, using birds as indicator group. We compared bird abundance and diversity in a sample of 64 vineyards, pairing 16 currently managed vineyards with 16 recently abandoned and 16 managed with 16 longer abandoned vineyards. We used mixed models and multivariate techniques to establish relationships between bird diversity and structural attributes of the habitats, and we derived management-specific population densities in a distance sampling approach.Long-abandoned vineyards hosted three times more species and showed a 3.6 times higher total bird abundance than managed viticulture. More recently abandoned vineyards had intermediate species numbers and abundance. Species richness patterns were not modulated by landscape composition and configuration, but higher abundances were found in landscapes with intermediate size of land-cover patches (i.e. field size). In managed vineyards, bird abundances were extremely low, with the exception of Woodlark Lullula arborea, which reached its highest abundance in managed vineyards. The bird community on abandoned vineyards shifted towards forest and woodland shrub species, likely driven by secondary succession, namely shrub encroachment and tree establishment.The strongly positive effects of land abandonment might be due to the fact that only single vineyards (not entire landscapes) were abandoned, thereby increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale. The future state of the old abandoned vineyards is difficult to predict. As of yet, the abandoned vineyards support a comparably diverse community of breeding birds that reach high abundances in comparison to managed vineyards, within an otherwise impoverished agricultural landscape.

Microbes found in soil can have a significant impact on the taste and quality of wine, also referred to as wine terroir. To date, wine terroir has been thought to be associated with the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. However, there is a fragmented understanding of the contribution of vineyard soil microbes to wine terroir. Additionally, vineyards can play an important role in carbon sequestration since the promotion of healthy soil and microbial communities directly impacts greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. We review 24 studies that explore the role of soil microbial communities in vineyards and their influence on grapevine health, grape composition, and wine quality. Studies spanning 2015 to 2018 laid a foundation by exploring soil microbial biogeography in vineyards, vineyard management effects, and the reservoir function of soil microbes for grape-associated microbiota. On the other hand, studies spanning 2019 to 2023 appear to have a more specific and targeted approach, delving into the relationships between soil microbes and grape metabolites, the microbial distribution at different soil depths, and microbial influences on wine flavor and composition. Next, we identify research gaps and make recommendations for future work. Specifically, most of the studies utilize targeted sequencing (16S, 26S, ITS), which only reveals community composition. Utilizing high-throughput omics approaches such as shotgun sequencing (to infer function) and transcriptomics (for actual function) is vital to determining the specific mechanisms by which soil microbes influence grape chemistry. Going forward, understanding the long-term effects of vineyard management practices and climate change on soil microbiology, grapevine trunk diseases, and the role of bacteriophages in vineyard soil and wine-making would be a fruitful investigation. Overall, the studies presented shed light on the importance of soil microbiomes and their interactions with grapevines in shaping wine production. However, there are still many aspects of this complex ecosystem that require further exploration and understanding to support sustainable viticulture and enhance wine quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With disruptive technologies being employed in the wine industry, the Metaverse – defined as an interactive, immersive environment that allows users to traverse between virtual and physical worlds, and enables them to interact with digital content and each other in a shared space, transcending the limitations of time, space, and physicality in a more realistic and engaging way – provides evidence of intriguing opportunities to curate more immersive virtual vineyard experiences for consumers. We offer a glimpse of how the Metaverse can revolutionize consumers' wine tasting experiences. Drawing on extant literature on multisensory wine consumption and different technologies, we provide a comprehensive definition of the Metaverse and propose a VINEYARD framework for academics and practitioners to consider in navigating through the 'metaversification' of virtual vineyard experiences. Furthermore, we identify key benefits and potential challenges when incorporating the Metaverse into vineyard management and marketing. Finally, we propose several metrics for practitioners to assess the sustainable development of virtual vineyard experiences in the Metaverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocrusts, common in natural ecosystems, are specific assemblages of microorganisms at or on the soil surface with associated microorganisms extending into the top centimeter of soil. Agroecosystem biocrusts have similar rates of nitrogen (N) fixation as those in natural ecosystems, but it is unclear how agricultural management influences their composition and function. This study examined the total bacterial and diazotrophic communities of biocrusts in a citrus orchard and a vineyard that shared a similar climate and soil type but differed in management. To contrast climate and soil type, these biocrusts were also compared with those from an apple orchard. Unlike natural ecosystem biocrusts, these agroecosystem biocrusts were dominated by proteobacteria and had a lower abundance of cyanobacteria. All of the examined agroecosystem biocrust diazotroph communities were dominated by N-fixing cyanobacteria from the Nostocales order, similar to natural ecosystem cyanobacterial biocrusts. Lower irrigation and fertilizer in the vineyard compared with the citrus orchard could have contributed to biocrust microbial composition, whereas soil type and climate could have differentiated the apple orchard biocrust. Season did not influence the bacterial and diazotrophic community composition of any of these agroecosystem biocrusts. Overall, agricultural management and climatic and edaphic factors potentially influenced the community composition and function of these biocrusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Soil resources are being depleted of nutrients and soil potential for food production is reducing. Among the primary nutrients, potassium is an essential nutrient for productivity and food quality and has numerous functions in the plant system. Grapes need potassium to build vine strength and sustain adequate vigor. The Jowzan Vally a rural district in Malayer county, Hamadan province, Iran was formally recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) because of its traditional grape cultivation system. Therefore the fractions of soil’s potassium and fertilizer potassium availability index (AI) in some vineyards soil of Malayer county, which is one of the important regions of grape production in the country, were carried out. This study was done to investigate the potassium fertility of the vineyard soil of Malayer county. Methodology Twenty topsoil (0-30 cm) samples were collected from different vineyards in Malayer county. Soils were analyzed for some physical and chemical properties. Different fractions of potassium (solution, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, and structural potassium) were determined and the mineral components of clay were assessed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) on oriented samples. Potassium fixation and fertilizer potassium availability index (AI) were determined after the soil samples had been treated with increasing rates of potassium. Soil samples were equilibrated at field capacity condition for 21 days at 25 ± 2°C after the addition of 0, 25, 75, 225, and 675 mg potassium kg–1. To determine the fertilizer potassium availability index (AI), the linear relation between the amount of potassium added to soil and the amount of potassium extracted with ammonium acetate was determined. All experiments were run in three replicates. The correlations between soil properties and fertilizer potassium availability index (AI) with potassium fractions were determined. Findings The types of minerals in the studied soils were similar and mainly included illite, chlorite, palygorskite, smectite, and low amounts of vermiculite and kaolinite, but their relative amounts were different. The average solution, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, and structural potassium concentrations in soils were 52, 314, 704, and 12381 mg kg-1, respectively. There was no deficiency of potassium in the studied soils and the concentration of potassium was at the optimal level, except for soil numbers 18 and 19. A negative and significant correlation was obtained between solution potassium concentration and the percentage of calcium carbonate equivalent in soils (r= -0.53, p≤0.05). The exchangeable potassium concentration shows a significant correlation with cation exchange capacity (r=0.48, p≤0.05), and pH (r= 0.48, p≤0.05). There was a negative and significant correlation between structural potassium and calcium carbonate equivalent percentage in soils (r= -0.48, p≤0.05). After 21 days of incubation, all three fractions of potassium (solution, exchangeable and non-exchangeable) have increased in the studied soils. The percentage increase of solution, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable potassium was between 6 to 23%, 60 to 89%, and less than 1 to 34%, respectively. A significant part of the potassium added to the soils entered the exchangeable fraction. Values of fertilizer potassium availability index (AI) ranged from 0.87 to 1.38. In 35% of soils including the Jowzan area (one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems), potassium fixation (AI less than one) and evidence of potassium depletion were observed. The highest increase in the percentage of non-exchangeable potassium was observed in soils with fertilizer potassium availability index of less than 1. The range of increase of nonexchangeable potassium in these soils was between 7.6 and 34%. There wasn’t any correlation between the fertilizer potassium availability index and soil properties. Mineralogical results showed that in soils where potassium fixation has occurred, illite is the most abundant mineral. Conclusion Soil mineralogy and total potassium values showed that most of the studied soils are fertile in terms of potassium, and the weathering of potassium minerals provides the potassium needed by plants. Nevertheless, it is recommended to manage the consumption of potassium fertilizers in the vineyards where potassium fixation was observed. Also, due to the presence of potassium-fixing clay minerals in the soil, the possibility of potassium fixation in other vineyards is predicted in case of improper management. Continued potassium export without potassium supply will lead to its eventual depletion in the soil. It is also recommended to study the potassium fixation capacity in the sand and silt components of the vineyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial diversity on the carposphere (berry) surface of the grape cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon grown in eight different locations/vineyards of Henan Province was determined by high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal 18S rRNA gene. The structure of bacterial and fungal communities varied according to the sampling sites, but with some common phyla. Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were dominant/common phyla for bacteria and fungi, respectively. A total of 27 and 20 bacterial and fungal families, respectively, and 39 and 20 bacterial and fungal genera, respectively, with statistically significant differences, were found among different sampling sites. The difference for metabolic pathways of bacteria among the sampling sites existed. In addition, various abundances of enzymes from different sites might indicate that different function patterns exist in microbiota from different sites. The results revealed that locations of grape vineyards might play a significant role in shaping the microbiome, as well as the fact that vineyards can be distinguished based on the abundance of several key bacterial and fungal taxa. Overall, these findings extend our understanding of the similarities and differences in microbial community and their metabolic function on Cabernet Sauvignon grape surfaces from different geographic locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has impacted viticulture in almost all of the Mediterranean area, mainly because of temperature rises and changes in precipitation patterns, thus influencing yield, quality, and the management of grape production. One of the measures to mitigate these effects is the adoption of irrigation strategies. This has environmental and economic implications. Thus, it seems essential to evaluate if irrigation is economically and environmentally justified to ensure the sustainability of the vineyard by preserving the water resource. The aim of this research is to compute wateruse indicators such as Water Productivity and Economic Water Productivity using field data obtained and to assess the economic impact of supplemental irrigation expenses through the analysis of a single case study. Since the results are heavily influenced by pedoclimatic conditions, vineyard structure, and economic decisions, the generalizability of our findings is not conceivable. However, our findings are valuable in determining when supplemental irrigation is or is not viable. Nonetheless, the findings might shed light on how water is managed in an Italian vineyard. Future supplemental irrigation plans ought to be developed using precision viticulture technologies to monitor the intricate soil-plant-environment system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago of volcanic origin in the Atlantic Ocean near the Saharan coast. The extensive intricacy and multitude of variables inherent in the Canary Islands winemaking tradition have posed a substantial challenge, preventing comprehensive research on the main factors contributing to the character of local wine, thus, far. This challenge arises from a convergence of factors including the presence of 14 different grape varieties, and radically different climatic, soil and geographic conditions. This investigation sought to start unraveling this complexity by discerning the impacts of various geographical (specifically, island-related) and management factors (namely, organic vs. conventional practices) on soils and wines within the Canary Islands. Additional variables, such as wine type (red and white) and island of origin, were explored and correlated with the chosen management system. Pairs of organic and conventional wine and soil samples, possessing similar characteristics, were systematically collected from each of the seven wine-producing islands in the Canary archipelago. An examination of elemental composition, oenological attributes and fertility parameters was conducted, followed by comprehensive statistical analysis. Among the variables examined, only the island of origin emerged as statistically significant within the sample. Concerning soil fertility, organic samples exhibited elevated levels of organic matter compared to their conventional counterparts. No notable disparities were observed between the two production methods in terms of soil metal composition and other fertility parameters. However, it is noteworthy that four soil samples surpassed the legally permissible limits for Nickel (Ni) and Mercury (Hg), with three of these instances originating from Lanzarote.

The results of this study on 12 varieties of vineyard infested by Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera. Tephritidae) in AinTemouchent region (Algeria), showed that percentage of infestation varied between varieties and the fruit fly preferred the initial stage of fruit to oviposit. Also the level of proteins and sugar contents of vineyard varieties are differ between varieties and also depends of the infestation percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sebou River Basin is vital for Moroccan agriculture, particularly in terms of producing industrial crops, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil. It is especially significant in viticulture, accounting for 80% and 60% of the national production area for wine and table grapes, respectively. However, the prevalence of diseases and pests requires extensive pesticide application in vineyards. This study aims to assess the impact of pesticides used in vineyards on the environment, human health and their associated sustainability. Agro-environmental indicators were evaluated across 30 vineyards covering 1197 hectares. Results show an average treatment frequency of 24.05 applications per growing cycle, the highest among grape-producing countries, with 77.94% being fungicides. The Quantity of Active Substances Indicator (QASI) reveals a high pesticide application rate of 44.60 Kg a.i./ha. Over 50% of chemicals are classified as "hazardous" based on the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ). A Pesticide Environmental Risk Indicator model (PERI) identifies three active ingredients with a high Environmental Risk Score (>5). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) reveals that copper sulfate has significant environmental impacts compared to Mancozeb and sulfur. These findings highlight the extensive use of pesticides in vineyards, posing challenges to long-term sustainable agriculture due to associated environmental and health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylotrechus arvicola represents a significant insect pest impacting Vitis vinifera within the principal wine-producing territories of the Iberian Peninsula. The larvae of this species bore into grapevine wood, resulting in significant structural and biomechanical deterioration to the plant. Compressive and flexural tests were conducted to assess the mechanical properties of wood affected by X. arvicola. Compressive and flexural strength exhibited a decline with the escalation of the Total Damaged Surface Area (TDSA) of the samples, ranging from 0.31% to 0.73% in trunks and from 0.04 to 0.76% in branches, irrespective of the wood moisture content (fresh and dry). The most significant reduction in resistance occurred in affected dry trunks and branches. Notably, the deflection at break for dry samples was lower compared to fresh samples (65.00 and 97.85 mm, respectively). Moreover, the deflection at break for affected fresh samples (164.37 mm) significantly surpassed that of unaffected fresh samples (72.58 mm) and affected dry samples (37.50 mm). It is noteworthy that a higher percentage of TDSA coincided with diminished wood resistance. The percentage of fungal growth symptoms observed in affected wood samples was 66.66% for dry trunks, 75.00% for fresh branches, and 60.00% for dry branches. The damage inflicted by larvae facilitated the spread of grapevine diseases via emergence of holes created by insects upon exiting the wood and through the larval galleries connected to them. This damage also altered the mechanical properties of grapevine plants, with fresh branches exhibiting the most pronounced effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Xiphinema species in the rhizosphere of vineyards showing general decline phenotype in North Italy was investigated. Most of the collected soil samples contained two Xiphinema species belonging to X. americanum-group, along with X. index. Using the integrative taxonomy approach, combining morphological, molecular and multivariate morphological analyses, the two populations of the X. americanum-group were identified as X. rivesi and X. pachtaicum. Furthermore, one male specimen of X. rivesi was recovered and the presence of three juvenile developmental stages was confirmed based on the scatter diagram. D2-D3 expansion domains of LSU, ITS region and partial COI were used to determine the phylogenetic relationships of the two Xiphinema species from North Italy with other species belonging to X. americanum-group. Five other Xiphinema populations from different geographical areas were included in this study and only molecularly identified as X. rivesi, X. pachtaicum and X. incertum by sequencing the ITS and D2-D3 expansion domains of LSU rDNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is the most widely cultivated and economically relevant crop in the world, but its productivity is menaced by aridification in some wine-growing regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. The impacts of climate on vines depend on regional conditions, cultivar, and vine age, among other factors. Hence, a better understanding of vine radial-growth responses to climate in different regions is sorely needed. First, we related climate data and drought severity with a long-term series of vine leaf unfolding from NE Spain to test if climate warming is advancing the onset of the growing season. Second, we used growth rings to estimate age and quantify climate-growth relationships of vines using dendrochronology. Three sites from different designations of origin and vine varieties were studied: Logroño in northern Spain (La Rioja, Tempranillo), San Martín del Río in northeast Spain (Calatayud, Garnacha) and Anzi in southern Italy (Aglianico, Aleatico). Vine leaf unfolding occurred earlier as winter-spring conditions were warmer and drier. Vine ages ranged between 16 (Logroño, Anzi) and 56 years (S. Martín del Río), and growth rates declined in the two youngest grapevines. Ring widths varied between 1.19 (S. Martín del Río) and 1.80 mm (Logroño), with Anzi showing intermediate values (1.37 mm). February precipitation enhanced vine growth in San Martín del Río ( r = 0.64) and Anzi ( r = 0.49), whereas the correlation with soil moisture peaked in March in San Martín del Río ( r = 0.83). Vine growth rates positively responded to September minimum temperatures in San Martín del Río ( r = 0.51) and Logroño ( r = 0.50). Garnacha cultivar in San Martín del Río showed the highest responsiveness to water availability. Therefore, similar old grapevines from continental, seasonally dry areas could be the most negatively affected by future warmer and drier climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy soils can provide the essential ecosystem services for food security and nutrition, climate, and sustainable development. Soil management practices can be optimized to promote the soil productivity and ecological balance for the highyield and high-quality grapes in intensive grape production. This study aims to investigate the soil health status in the intensive vineyards in Quzhou County, Hebei Province, China. The soil samples were then collected in October 2020. A total of 42 vineyards were sampled in 0-20 cm soil depth. Twenty physical, chemical, and biological indicators were determined, including soil water content, surface hardness, subsurface hardness, bulk density, wet aggregate stability, pH, total nitrogen, available P and K, exchangeable Ca and Mg, available Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, exchangeable Na, soil organic carbon, permanganate oxidizable carbon, soil protein, and respiration. The principal component analysis was used to establish the minimum dataset for the soil health evaluation in the intensive vineyards. Two evaluation approaches, Linear (L) and non-linear (NL) scoring functions, were used to calculate the soil health index. The limiting factors were also identified in the vineyards. The results revealed that six indicators were selected for the minimum dataset by the principal component analysis, including the soil organic carbon, soil subsurface hardness, exchangeable sodium, bulk density, water content, and wet stability aggregate. There was a significant positive correlation (P<0.01) between the soil health index with the total data set and the minimum dataset with linear and nonlinear scoring functions. Alternatively, the minimum dataset was used to better replace the total dataset, in order to assess the soil health in vineyards. According to the minimum dataset, the soil health indices ranged from 0.39-0.59 and 0.36-0.66 with average values of 0.52 and 0.51 using linear and nonlinear scoring functions, respectively, indicating the medium level. The soil health indices in the average tree age of 6, 13, and 22 were 0.64-0.65 and 0.50-0.53 using linear and non-linear scoring functions using the minimum dataset, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the soil health index among vines of different tree ages. The soil surface hardness, subsurface hardness, and bulk density in the vineyards were 1 203 kPa, 1 023 kPa, and 1.42 g/cm³, respectively, indicating a medium compaction level. Soil available P and K, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and available Fe and Zn were all at the rich level. The average content of soil organic carbon was 8.33 g/kg with a range of 5.6- 13.1 g/kg, which was at the deficiency level. Therefore, the major soil obstacles in the intensive vineyards mainly included soil compaction, nutrient imbalance, and low organic carbon content. The agricultural measures can be implemented to reduce the frequency of field management in the optimal utilization of organic or bio-organic fertilizers, and cover crop planting, as well as the integrated nutrient. These approaches can be expected to enhance the soil health level in the sustainable development of local grape industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spraying on tree crops must consider the canopy's structural features to maximize its effectiveness. The main drawbacks to Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) technology include the complexity of successfully implementing it and the lack of evidence that it assures better performance in net profit or water savings. Hence, a novel framework based on canopy characterization was presented in this research for an automatic variable-rate spraying system. The first phase was collecting the data, and the next was cleaning it to eliminate redundant information. The pre-treated data are then entered into the Crest- Stride-wise Regression Framework we devised, where we extract the canopy features and evaluate additional parameters. In addition, our proposed model automatically predicts the nozzle's flow rate and pressure based on a threshold value. Thus, this research shows that the recommended strategy achieves 99.98% accuracy, 99.99% precision, 99.99% F1 score, and 99.99% recall. As a result, our study enables safer and more efficient spraying distribution in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a limiting factor and to adopt the most appropriate agronomic strategy it is necessary to know the water status. The objective is (i) analysing of the influence of different agronomic treatments on canopy temperature in vineyards with a thermal camera on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), (ii) analysing of the influence of different agronomic treatments on vineyard water potentials with a pressure chamber, (iii) advanced technical feasibility analysis of vineyard crop monitoring. The control treatment (T07) in cv. Grenache consisted of applying 30% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) with irrigation frequency every seven days and seven different treatments were proposed with different irrigation frequencies, pre-bud irrigation, and vine shoot distribution (T03, T15, T7A, T7V, T7P, T00, and T0P). As a result and in conclusion, the use of thermal cameras in UAVs and mid-day stem water potential allows differentiation between irrigated and unirrigated treatments, but no clear differences were shown between irrigation frequencies, pre-irrigation treatment, or vine shoot distribution. Comparing the thermal camera information in UAV and the stem water potential, certain patterns are identified with significant correlation values, the use of thermal cameras for the evaluation of plant water status is recommended, especially to obtain information in large areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural management influences the soil ecosystem by affecting its physicochemical properties, residues of pesticides and microbiome. As vineyards grow crops with the highest incidence of pesticides, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of conventional and sustainable management systems of vineyards from DOP Ribeiro on the soil's condition. Samples from soils under three different management systems were collected, and the main soil physicochemical properties were evaluated. A selection of 50 pesticides were investigated by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The bacterial and fungal microbiomes were characterized through amplicon sequencing. The results show that organic agriculture positively influences soil pH and the concentration of some nutrients compared to conventional management. Our microbiome analysis demonstrated that transitioning from conventional to organic management significantly improves several BeCrop® indexes related to key microbial metabolism and soil bio-sustainability. Such a transition does not affect soil alpha diversity, but leads to a higher interconnected microbial network structure. Moreover, differential core genera and species for each management system are observed. In addition, the correlation of the microbiome with geographical distance is evidence of the existence of different microbial terroirs within DOP Ribeiro. Indeed, sustainable management leads to higher nutrient availability and enhances soil health in the short term, while lowering pesticide usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylotrechus arvicola Olivier 1795 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an insect pest that affects Vitis vinifera L. 1753 (Vitales: Vitaceae) plants in the main wine-producing regions of Spain. X. arvicola larvae bore into grapevine wood, causing both direct damage (ingestion of vascular tissues) and indirect damages (introduction of wood fungi) to the plant. The aim of research was to evaluate the effective section of wood damaged by larvae and assess its resistance capacity through compression tests and loading and breaking times. Compressive tests (on trunks) and flexural tests (on branches) were performed to evaluate the effective section. Trunk samples exhibited a higher effective section than branches samples, with effective section percentages ranging from 91.49 % to 93.53 % in trunks and decreasing from 84.91 % to 86.95 % in branches. Both loading times (Time 1) and breakage times (Time 2) increased with the effective section of the wood, although these times were lower in damaged wood samples of both trunks and branches. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the interactions between loading time x effective section and breakage time x effective section in dry trunks. This indicates a stronger relationship between the effective section and increased resistance in trunks. The results suggest that, in ‘Tempranillo’ variety, branches with a lower effective section are more prone to breakage when affected by X. arvicola larvae, whereas trunks, with a greater effective section, maintain better stability. This research should be continued with the evaluation of other vine varieties and different years of X. arvicola attacks, as the current findings are based on a single variety (‘Tempranillo’) over a period of ten years.

Accurate evaluation of grapevine water use is essential for optimizing water management and maximizing grapevine yield and berry quality in Mediterranean climates. Understanding the water and heat flux dynamics in a vineyard during grapevine berry maturation is of utmost importance. This study focuses on evaluating sensible and latent energy fluxes at the canopy, the soil beneath the canopy, and the interrow areas. The primary objective is to develop a model framework for accurately estimating these energy fluxes, contributing to a better understanding of their behavior during berry ripening. The model’s accuracy was assessed by comparing the estimated fluxes with those measured by an eddy-covariance system installed at a reference height of three meters in the experimental vineyard. This validation step was essential to confirm the model’s ability to capture the intricate energy flux dynamics of the vineyard, especially during grape maturation. The results revealed a high level of agreement between the observed and estimated fluxes, confirming the model’s reliability. This comprehensive evaluation of energy fluxes provides valuable insights for optimizing irrigation strategies. By doing so, this study contributes to improving grape quality, ensuring sustainable water resource use, and ultimately enhancing vineyard productivity in arid and water-scarce regions.

Introduction: Continuous cropping affected the stability of soil enzyme activity and the structural characteristics of microbial community. Owing to challenges in the study of complex rhizosphere microbial communities, the composition and function of these microbial communities in farmland ecosystems remain elusive. Here, we studied the microbial communities of the rhizosphere of wine grapes with different years of continuous cropping and investigated their relationships with soil enzyme activity. Methods: Metagenomic sequencing was conducted on the rhizosphere soils from one uncultivated wasteland and four vineyards with varying durations of continuous cropping. Results: The predominant microbial were bacteria (98.39%), followed by archaea (1.15%) and eukaryotes (0.45%). Continuous cropping caused a significant increase in the relative abundance of Rhizobiales and Micrococcales but a marked decrease in Solirubrobacterales. At the genus level, 75, 88, 65, 132, and 128 microbial genera were unique to uncultivated wasteland, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of continuous cropping, respectively. The relative abundance of genes with signal transduction function was the highest. The activity of all enzymes measured in this study peaked at 5 years of continuous cropping, and then decreased with 10 to 15 year of continuous cropping, but increased at 20 years again. In addition, soil enzyme activity, especially of alkaline phosphatase was significantly correlated with the diversity of the dominant microorganisms at the genus level. Moreover, the coupled enzyme activities had a greater impact on the diversity of the microbial community than that of individual enzymes. Conclusion: Our findings reveal the composition and function of the soil microbial communities and enzymes activity in response to changes in cropping years, which has important implications for overcoming continuous cropping obstacles and optimizing land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestication of vines started in Asia 11,000 years ago, although it was not until the 19th century that oenology was established as a scientific discipline thanks to the research of Louis Pasteur on the role of microorganisms in wine fermentation. At the present time, the progression in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies is helping to facilitate the identification of microbial dynamics during winemaking. These advancements have aided winemakers in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the role of microbiota in the fermentation process, which, in turn, is ultimately responsible for the delivery of provisioning (wine features and its production), regulating (such as carbon storage by vineyards, regulation of soil quality, and biocontrol of pests and diseases) or cultural (such as aesthetic values of vineyard landscapes, scholarly enjoyment of wine, and a sense of belonging in wine-growing regions) ecosystem services. To our knowledge, this is the first review of the state of knowledge on the role of microbiota in the delivery of ecosystem services in the wine sector, as well as the possibility of valuing them in monetary terms by operating logic chains, such as those suggested by the SEEA-EA framework. This paper concludes with a review of management practices that may enhance the value of microbiota ecosystem services and the role of smart farming in this task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional techniques for estimating the weight of clusters in a winery, generally consist of manually counting the variety of clusters per vine, and scaling by means of the entire variety of vines. This method can be arduous, and costly, and its accuracy depends on the scale of the sample. To overcome these problems, hybrid approaches of computer vision, deep learning (DL), and machine learning (ML) based vineyard yield prediction systems are proposed. Self-prepared datasets are used for comparative analysis of 2D and 3D yield prediction systems for vineyards. DL-based approach for segmentation operation on an RGB-D image dataset created with the D435I camera is used along with the ML-based weight prediction technique of grape clusters present in the single image using these datasets. A comparative analysis of the DL-based Keras regression model and various ML-based regression models for the weight prediction task is taken into account, and finally, a prediction model is proposed to estimate the yield of the entire vineyard. The analysis shows improved performance with the 3D vineyard yield prediction system compared to the 2D vineyard yield prediction system with grape cluster segmentation pixel accuracy up to 94.81% and yield prediction accuracy up to 99.58%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylloxera plague in the 19th century caused significant losses in the Spanish vineyards, but also led to a change in the wine-growing map. The area's most suitable for cultivation recovered, while the less suitable areas such as Sierra Morena, which includes the northern part of the province of Córdoba, were gradually abandoned until they almost disappeared. Using geographic information systems, the historical cartography of the second half of the 19th century was analyzed to locate and identify the geographic characteristics of these old vineyards, their extension, location, lithology, slopes, orientation and coexistence with other crops. Among the results obtained, it was found that in the study area their extension exceeded that of the south of the province, where the consolidated Montilla-Moriles wine appellation currently exists. From the interpretation of the maps obtained, some characteristics of the disappeared landscapes of this vineyard of the Mediterranean mid-mountains are also shown, and some initiatives for its valorization are registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape is an important fruit consumed both fresh and dried in human nutrition. However, grapes are an important export product for the Turkish economy. There are many harmful insect and disease factors in terms of plant protection in vineyards. The main harmful insect species that affects the yield and quality negatively by feeding on flowers and clusters in vineyards is European Grapevine Moth [Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)]. This study was carried out by using sexual attractive traps in two vineyards of 10 decares each between the years 2021-2022 in Diyarbakir Province Hazro District, where the mazruni grape variety is grown intensively. It was aimed to determine the first emergence time, adult population change, the period of active presence in nature, the number of progeny and the infestation rate of the clusters in the vineyards of the cluster moth, which is the main pest in the vineyards. As a result of the study, it was determined that the adult flights of L. botrana were first detected in the traps on 18 April, ended on 21 November, and they were active in nature for about 8 months. A total of 296 adults/traps were counted in the Hürriyet neighborhood in 2021, the maximum weekly population density was 21 October (21 adults/traps), and a total of 1844 adults/traps were counted in Yazgı neighborhood, and the maximum weekly population density was 8 July (198 adults/traps).) was detected on in 2022, a total of 663 adults/traps were counted in Hürriyet neighborhood, the maximum weekly population density was 27 June (80 adults/trap), and a total of 2055 adults/traps were counted in Yazgı neighborhood, and the maximum weekly population density was 20 June (233 adults/traps). trap) was detected. Depending on the population density, it has been determined that the pest creates 4 peaks per year, three before harvest and one after harvest, and can give an estimated 4 generations under natural conditions. In the vineyard in Hürriyet neighborhood, the rate of pest and infestation of the clusters was determined to be 5% and 23%, respectively, and in the vineyard in Yazgı neighborhood, the ratio of L. botrana to the pest and infestation was 25% and 45%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we analyse the evolution of the grapes yield and their sugar content belonging to "Fetească Regală" vineyard variety cultivated in climatic conditions of Transylvanian region, Romania, covering the time period 2020-2022. In each experimental year, daily temperatures and precipitations were recorded during the grapevine vegetation period. Grapevine yield and sugar content was recorded at the end of each vegetation period. Averages were calculated yearly and by entire experimental period. Descriptive statistics and multi regression approach were implemented to calculate de averages, dispersion parameters, significance of differences, and relationships between the climatic factors and production traits. Overall datasets concerning grapes yields and their sugar content expressed a normal distribution. Our study emphasizes that precipitations have low influence on grapes yields and their sugar content, while temperature is positively associated with both above mentioned quantitative traits. When expressed by experimental years, increased temperatures led to higher yields and sugar content, significant differences are reported among yearly values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of enhancing the wine production process through the utilization of new technologies in viticulture, this study presents a novel approach for the rapid assessment of wine grape maturity levels using non-destructive, in situ infrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence techniques. Building upon our previous work focused on estimating sugar content ( ∘ Brix) from the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) regions, this research expands its scope to encompass pH and titratable acidity, critical parameters determining the grape maturity degree, and in turn, wine quality, offering a more representative estimation pathway. Data were collected from four grape varieties—Chardonnay, Malagouzia, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah—during the 2023 harvest and pre-harvest phenological stages in the vineyards of Ktima Gerovassiliou, northern Greece. A comprehensive spectral library was developed, covering the VNIR–SWIR spectrum (350–2500 nm), with measurements performed in situ. Ground truth data for pH, titratable acidity, and sugar content were obtained using conventional laboratory methods: total soluble solids (TSS) ( ∘ Brix) by refractometry, titratable acidity by titration (expressed as mg tartaric acid per liter of must) and pH by a pH meter, analyzed at different maturation stages in the must samples. The maturity indicators were predicted from the point hyperspectral data by employing machine learning algorithms, including Partial Least Squares regression (PLS), Random Forest regression (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), in conjunction with various pre-processing techniques. Multi-output models were also considered to simultaneously predict all three indicators to exploit their intercorrelations. A novel multi-input–multi-output CNN model was also proposed, incorporating a multi-head attention mechanism and enabling the identification of the spectral regions it focuses on, and thus having a higher interpretability degree. Our results indicate high accuracy in the estimation of sugar content, pH, and titratable acidity, with the best models yielding mean R 2 values of 0.84, 0.76, and 0.79, respectively, across all properties. The multi-output models did not improve the prediction results compared to the best single-output models, and the proposed CNN model was on par with the next best model. The interpretability analysis highlighted that the CNN model focused on spectral regions associated with the presence of sugars (i.e., glucose and fructose) and of the carboxylic acid group. This study underscores the potential of portable spectrometry for real-time, non-destructive assessments of wine grape maturity, thereby providing valuable tools for informed decision making in the wine production industry. By integrating pH and titratable acidity into the analysis, our approach offers a holistic view of grape quality, facilitating more comprehensive and efficient viticultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The carbon footprint and carbon storage of wine vineyard under extremely simplified ecological mode were studied to provide basis for understanding carbon sequestration capacity of vineyard ecosystem in Penglai, Shandong. [Method] Wine vineyards in Penglai, Shandong under extremely simplified ecological mode were selected in this study. The carbon footprint of upstream production links, wine grape cultivation links and wine brewing links of three wine vineyards of Italian Riesling, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon were calculated using life cycle assessment method. By establishing an allometric growth model of wine grape plants, the biomass of each organ of wine vineyard plants was calculated, and the carbon storage distribution characteristics were quantified by combining organic carbon contents. [Result] The carbon footprints of Italian Riesling, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon under extremely simplified ecological mode were 3 458.42, 3 354.62 and 3 133.65 kg/hrrT, respectively. The carbon emissions caused by fuel oil were the highest in production activities, accounting for 29.94 %, 30.87 % and 33.04 % of the total carbon emissions in their life cycles, respectively. Electricity input accounted for 29.80%, 25.29% and 24.03%, respectively. The carbon emissions caused by fertilizer input were the lowest, accounting for 8.1 4 %, 8.79 % and 9.58 %, respectively. Through quantitative analysis, the carbon storages of Italian Riesling, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon in Penglai, Shandong were 56.98, 69.52 and 60.96 t/hm², re-spectively. The proportion of soil carbon storage in vineyards was 80.84%-92.09%, and the carbon storage of plants was 4.03%-1 5.52%. [Conclusion] In the whole production process of wine grape, fuel oil and electricity input were the main source of carbon emissions. The carbon storage of vineyards was huge and mainly distributed in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a worldwide problem, which leads to unprecedented pressure on water supply in arid and semi-arid regions. Treated wastewater is an alternative water resource, therefore, its reuse for agricultural irrigation has been growing worldwide since the beginning of the 21st century. In several regions of wine-producing countries (e.g., Australia, California – USA, Spain), wastewater reuse appears to be the most accessible alternative, both financially and technically, for agricultural uses that notably do not require drinking water. From the summer of 2022, vine irrigation full-scale implementation will start with tertiary treated municipal wastewater in the French Languedoc region. This was made possible thanks to a collaborative research project conducted between 2013 and 2018 to address all potential health and environmental risks associated with this process. This research project was conducted in the south of France, with experimental and control plots both equipped with drip irrigation systems. All the results produced during the research project demonstrated the feasibility of applying this process for vine drip irrigation while effectively managing health and environmental risks and complying with the regulation. A social acceptance and economic study were also performed in order to broaden the scope of the project scalability evaluation. HIGHLIGHTS Low cost and robust technology.; Process easy to ‘Copy and adapt’.; Consideration of environmental and health aspects.; Sustaining the wine industry at a regional scale.; First deployment at full-scale following the research project.;

Attracting natural enemies to farms to reduce pests has long been a part of integrated pest management for insects, but knowledge of the impact of raptors on rodent and other vertebrate pests is comparatively sparse. Using wooden nest boxes to attract rodent-eating barn owls (Tyto alba and Tyto furcata) to farms has been practiced in many regions for decades, but to date there have only been a handful of studies comparing rodent numbers in the presence and absence of barn owl nest boxes, and none done within the Western United States. In this study, we surveyed rodents on winegrape vineyards in Napa California with and without occupied barn owl nest boxes by live-trapping for rodents and using the open-hole method for gophers. We collected data before the owl breeding season, when hunting pressure should be light, and again when adult owls were hunting actively to feed their chicks. We found that gopher activity declined from before to peak hunting pressure on the vineyard with barn owl nest boxes, whereas it slightly increased on the vineyard without nest boxes. Live trapping revealed that the abundance of mice declined from before to peak hunting pressure, but this decline was not significantly affected by the presence of nest boxes. Results were inconclusive for voles because they not well-sampled by our live trapping method, even though analysis of owl pellets confirmed they are an important source of prey for barn owls.

Microbes found in soil can have a significant impact on the taste and quality of wine, also referred to as wine terroir. To date, wine terroir has been thought to be associated with the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. However, there is a fragmented understanding of the contribution of vineyard soil microbes to wine terroir. Additionally, vineyards can play an important role in carbon sequestration since the promotion of healthy soil and microbial communities directly impacts greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. We review 24 studies that explore the role of soil microbial communities in vineyards and their influence on grapevine health, grape composition, and wine quality. Studies spanning 2015 to 2018 laid a foundation by exploring soil microbial biogeography in vineyards, vineyard management effects, and the reservoir function of soil microbes for grape-associated microbiota. On the other hand, studies spanning 2019 to 2023 appear to have a more specific and targeted approach, delving into the relationships between soil microbes and grape metabolites, the microbial distribution at different soil depths, and microbial influences on wine flavor and composition. Next, we identify research gaps and make recommendations for future work. Specifically, most of the studies utilize targeted sequencing (16S, 26S, ITS), which only reveals community composition. Utilizing high-throughput omics approaches such as shotgun sequencing (to infer function) and transcriptomics (for actual function) is vital to determining the specific mechanisms by which soil microbes influence grape chemistry. Going forward, understanding the long-term effects of vineyard management practices and climate change on soil microbiology, grapevine trunk diseases, and the role of bacteriophages in vineyard soil and wine-making would be a fruitful investigation. Overall, the studies presented shed light on the importance of soil microbiomes and their interactions with grapevines in shaping wine production. However, there are still many aspects of this complex ecosystem that require further exploration and understanding to support sustainable viticulture and enhance wine quality.

The chemo-morphological properties of soils on ancient landforms (quarzitic pliocene alluvial fans, pleistocene terraces), namely “rañizos”, on middle-high mountains (Eastern-Central System, Iberian Peninsula, Rio Negro, Cogolludo) were investigated. Several properties were analyzed by standard procedures. A detailed soil diagnostics and classification on “rañizos” were done, unlike those widely studied on “rañas” (similar landform), by identifying parallel pedogenetic processes in both formations. The genetic and geographic features of Alfisols, Ultisols and Inceptisols are closely related to the nature of their parent materials, based on quartzite and quartz conglomerates, sometimes with an arkosic matrix, red shale, polygenic gravels and pebbles. Soil features were determined by genuine soil-forming inherent lithological rock properties. Other driving factors were flat topography and enough soil formation time to allow intense pedogenesis. The main soil-forming processes were intense weathering, clay enrichment horizons with illuviation, red color caused by iron oxide dehydration and signs of pseudogleyzation processes. Such pedological formations can be considered endemisms; that is, “rare” soils and, up to a point, “relict”. The soil reaction is acid/slightly acid with low base saturation. Despite lying on mountains, soils are characterized by moderate-low organic matter content. Soil conditions and climate provide good vine production requirements despite acidity levels. A common feature of all Rio Negro soils is the presence of gravel (size up to 3–5 cm), which is evenly distributed on arable layers. The results can be used to assess vineyard soil use in a potential Pago (Protected Denomination of Origin) and to extend the database of vineyard soils from poorly studied Mediterranean continental mountain regions.

Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly becoming a strategic asset for global and national environmental policies and economy. A big challenge is the selection of appropriate indicators to describe the complexity of the agroecosystem management. In the present work, the sustainability of grape production, in vineyard trials of Pinot blanc and Rhine Riesling, managed with integrated (INT) and organic management (organic, with cattle manure ORG1 and organic with green manure ORG2), was compared using a multi-indicator approach. The experiment was set in 2011 (1.5 ha in Trento, Italy) and carbon footprint (CF), nitrogen footprint (NF), water footprint (WF), soil microbial diversity (alpha diversity of bacteria, fungi, oomycetes communities) and soil C stock change, were evaluated in 2018. The CF was 0.213—0.227 kg CO2-eq/kg in the INT, 0.144—0.168 kg CO2-eq/kg in ORG1 and 0.134—0.147 kg CO2-eq/kg in ORG2. The NF was around 1 g Nr/kg for the INT, 0.4 g Nr/kg for ORG1 and 0.5 g Nr/kg for ORG2. The WF, excluding the pesticides impact on grey water, was 666—708 L/kg for INT, 605—655 L/kg for ORG1 and 529—580 L/kg for ORG2. The impact of farming practices on soil microbial alpha diversity showed no significant difference among treatments for oomycetes and significantly higher indexes for fungi and bacteria in the ORG1, with INT and ORG2, being similar. No difference in bulk organic C were observed among treatments. Overall, the multi-indicator approach allowed to demonstrate that the organic management was more beneficial for most of the environmental spheres of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting the grape yield.

The efficient management of irrigation water can affect crop profitability quite significantly. The application of precision irrigation based on soil monitoring can help manage water resources. In viticulture, the irrigation technique is thought to strongly influence grape ripening and the final grape composition. In this study, an irrigation decision support system was compared to a surface drip irrigation system in a commercial vineyard located in Andrea (Southern Italy) planted with Vitis vinifera cv. Montepulciano. We aimed to investigate the ability of the DSS to save water while maintaining an acceptable yield and quality of the grapes. To allow for the comparison, eco-physiological as well as yield parameters were measured during the irrigation periods in both irrigation systems over two years (2019 and 2020). The results indicate that the vines grown using the DSS treatment were less stressed compared to the plants grown using farm irrigation in both years. The yield attributes showed slight or no significant differences between the treatments. The quality results showed no significant differences between the treatments in both years. Our results indicate that with savings of 10% and 17% of the irrigation water in the first and second year, respectively, the DSS was able to maintain good yield and quality levels as compared to the farm irrigation system. These two-year results provide a promising implementation of its use in precision irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa (New Zealand) has a strong and growing winegrape industry struggling to access workers to complete skilled, seasonal tasks such as pruning. Maintaining high-producing vines requires training agricultural workers that can make quality cane pruning decisions, which can be difficult when workers are not readily available. A novel vision system for an autonomous cane pruning robot is presented that can assess a vine to make quality pruning decisions like an expert. The vision system is designed to generate an accurate digital 3D model of a vine with skeletonised cane structures to estimate key pruning metrics for each cane. The presented approach has been extensively evaluated in a real-world vineyard as a commercial platform would be expected to operate. The system is demonstrated to perform consistently at extracting dimensionally accurate digital models of the vines. Detailed evaluation of the digital models shows that 51.45% of the canes were modelled entirely, with a further 35.51% only missing a single internode connection. The quantified results demonstrate that the robotic platform can generate dimensionally accurate metrics of the canes for future decision-making and automation of pruning. • Presents a novel robotic platform that visually constructs 3D Models of grapevines. • A thorough evaluation shows 85% of the vines cane structure is captured correctly. • The 3D Models vine structure is accurate to within millimeters of the real canes. • The 3D Models are precise enough to produce expert evaluations of the canes quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil characteristics, land management practices, and plant genotypes influence arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities, leading to the proliferation of AMF taxa with different growth and nutritional outcomes in their hosts. However, the specific patterns driving these relationships are still not well understood. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the influence of soil characteristics, land use, and rootstock on AMF diversity and community structure and (2) assess the effect of those AMF communities on grapevine growth and nutrition. Soil samples were collected from vineyard and non-agricultural areas in Lisbon and Pegões, Portugal, and trap cultures established using Richter 110 and 1103 Paulsen rootstocks. After 3.5 months growth under greenhouse conditions, root-associated AMF communities were assessed by amplicon metagenomic sequencing using AMF-specific primers. Alpha diversity was only influenced by the soil type, while in β-diversity, an interaction was found between the soil type and land use. Both diversity measures were positively correlated with foliar K and negatively with leaf Mn and Mg. Notably, the concentrations of these nutrients were highly correlated with the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the genera Glomus, Rhizophagus, and Claroideoglomus. These results are valuable for supporting AMF selection for improved plant nutrition based on varying soil types and land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two vineyard management practices on the soil and its associated microbiota. The experiments were conducted in two adjacent plots, one completely organically managed and the other conventionally managed in terms of phytosanitary treatments but fertilized with organic amendments. The chemical soil analyses were correlated to the prokaryotic and fungal communities, which were studied using the metabarcoding technique. The main difference between the two treatments was a significantly higher amount of Cu in the organic managed vineyard soil, while conventional managed soil presented higher concentration of Na and Mg and was also associated with higher pH values. Despite these differences, no significant diversities were observed on soil biodiversity and microbial composition considering alpha and beta diversity metrics. However, the percentages of some phyla analyzed individually differed significantly between the two managements. Analyzing the metabolisms of these phyla, it was discovered an increment of species correlated to soils with higher organic matter content or land not used for agricultural purposes in the organic treated soil. The findings indicate that, despite the use of copper-based phytosanitary products, there was no degradation and loss of biodiversity in the organic soil microbial population compared to conventional management with the same type of fertilization, and the observed microbial population was more similar to that of natural soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]