O cultivo da macieira na Itália: porta-enxertos, cultivares, adubação e irrigação

A Itália é um dos principais países produtores de maçãs na Europa, destinada principalmente ao consumo in natura no mercado nacional e internacional. A produção e a qualidade dos frutos é dependente da cultivar, do porta-enxerto e das práticas de manejo, como a adubação e a irrigação adotado no pomar. Esta revisão tem por objetivo reportar as principais cultivares e porta-enxertos de macieira e o manejo da adubação e irrigação e suas atualizações em pomares de macieira da Itália. Os programas de melhoramento genético nesse país envolveram a seleção de cultivares e porta-enxertos de macieira que permitem a obtenção de altas produtividades e frutos de qualidade exigida pelo mercado consumidor. No manejo da adubação e irrigação, os nutrientes e a água têm sido fornecidos em quantidades próximas a real necessidade das plantas, proporcionando nutrição adequada, produção satisfatória e frutos de boa qualidade, além de evitar, sempre que possível, as perdas de nutrientes e água no ambiente

Chemical and sensory characterisation of Sangiovese red wines: comparison between biodynamic and organic management

The effects of biodynamic production practices on composition and sensory attributes of Sangiovese wines were examined for 2 years (2009 and 2010) in a vineyard that was converted from organic (ORG) to biodynamic (BDN) viticulture. During the first year (2009), the BDN wines were characterised by low alcohol strength, colour intensity, total polyphenols, monomeric anthocyanins and catechin. Conversely, the second year BDN wines differed from the organic wines in terms of total polyphenols and phenolic compounds, including polymeric pigments, co-pigmentation, tannins and iron-reactive polyphenols. The effect of management practices, harvest and their interaction was analysed for each compound. Positive interaction was observed for total acidity, volatile acidity, cyanidin-3-glucoside, protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol. ORG wine initially showed a more complex aroma profile; however, the differences were almost indistinguishable during the second year. Trained panellists highlighted differences in colour intensity between ORG and BDN wines although no preference was found by consumers. The concentrations of ochratoxin A and biogenic amines were far below the health-hazardous threshold

Nitrogen nutrition influences some biochemical responses to iron deficiency in tolerant and sensitive genotypes of Vitis

The effects of nitrogen source on iron deficiency responses were investigated in two Vitis genotypes, one tolerant to limestone chlorosis Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera cv.) and the other susceptible Gloire de Montpellier (Vitis riparia cv.). Plants were grown with or without Fe(III)-EDTA, and with NO3 – alone or a mixture of NO3– and NH4+. Changes in pH of the nutrient solution and root ferric chelate reductase (FC-R) activity were monitored over one week. We carried out quantitative metabolic profiling (1HNMR) and determined the activity of enzymes involved in organic acid metabolism in root tips. In iron free-solutions, with NO3 – as the sole nitrogen source, the typical Fe-deficiency response reactions as acidification of the growth medium and enhanced FC-R activity in the roots were observed only in the tolerant genotype. Under the same nutritional conditions, organic acid accumulation (mainly citrate and malate) was found for both genotypes. In the presence of NH4+, the sensitive genotype displayed some decrease in pH of the growth medium and an increase in FC-R activity. For both genotypes, the presence of NH4 + ions decreased significantly the organic acid content of roots. Both Vitis genotypes were able to take up NH4+ from the nutrient solution, regardless of their sensitivity to iron deficiency. The presence of N-NH4+ modified typical Fe stress responses in tolerant and sensitive Vitis genotypes

Influence of canopy-applied chitosan on the composition of organic cv. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon berries and wines

The effects of canopy-applied chitosan on grapes and derived wine were evaluated in an organically managed mature vineyard. The experiment was performed on Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon red grape cultivars, the application of a chitosan solution was compared to water spraying. Each treatment was applied 3 times (beginning and end of veraison, and pre-harvest) in a randomized block experimental design. Significant differences in (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 amounts in berries and wines were detected in Cabernet Sauvignon but not in Sangiovese. Chitosan did not influence the berry skin anthocyanin and flavonol amount or t-resveratrol concentration in both skins and wines. A considerable increase in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), together with some other amino acids, ammonium and amines was observed in the berry flesh of cv. Cabernet Sauvignon. The increase in phenolic acids and nitrogenous compounds, especially GABA, in the pulp of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes suggests changes in stress response

Ambiente e viticoltura, un binomio vincente

La ricerca e le sperimentazioni per lo sviluppo di tecniche di coltivazione ad elevata sostenibilit\ue0 in viticoltura assumono fondamentale importanza nel conciliare un miglioramento qualitativo pienamente ecocompatibile con adeguata redditivit\ue0 agli agricoltori. E possibile, attraverso strategie di gestione del suolo, indurre nelle viti un sostanziale equilibrio vegeto- produttivo, evidenziato da rese soddisfacenti, produzioni di elevata qualit\ue0 e salubrit\ue0, ottimo stato nutrizionale e sanitario

Mineral and vegetable oils as effective dormancy release agents for sustainable viticulture in a sub-tropical region

Increasing restrictions on the use of agrochemicals in agriculture is a major limiting factor for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) growers, especially with respect to the use of hydrogen cyanamide as a bud dormancy-releasing compound, which is usually necessary in sub-tropical regions. In this context, a trial of the cultivar ‘Carmem’ was carried out in a commercial vineyard located in Paraná State, Southern Brazil, with the aim of developing an environmentally friendly and economically viable bud-break treatment. The following treatments were applied over two consecutive years: (i) control (water); (ii) 2% (v/v) vegetable oil (VO); (iii) 2% (v/v) mineral oil (MO); (iv) 2% (v/v) VO + 2% (v/v) MO; or (v) 3% (v/v) hydrogen cyanamide (HC). In both years, treatments (iv) and (v) increased bud-break percentages by a similar extent, from 24-25.0% to 60-95%. Both treatments also increased the number of berry clusters and yield, from 0.9-1.3 kg to 3.3-4.6 kg per vine, and decreased catalase activity in buds until 24 h after treatment. It appears that treatment (iv) could provide a substitute for the use of 3% (v/v) hydrogen cyanamide in viticulture in the sub-tropics, and could be a sustainable alternative based on lower cost and environmental impact