Effects of irrigation and shoot thinning on the size and phenolics content of developing grape berries (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo)

 Aim of study: The concentration of phenolics in the grape berries can be influenced by cultural practices such as irrigation or thinning. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of combinations of these practices on grape size and phenolics content. Area of study: The trial was carried out in an experimental cv. Tempranillo vineyard located in Extremadura, Spain. Material and methods: Two irrigation regimes were considered: rainfed vines (non-irrigated, NIr), and 100% ETc irrigated vines (Ir). For each irrigation treatment, two cropping levels were studied: low shoot-thinning (LT) vs high shoot-thinning (HT) implemented in winter and spring, respectively. Berry weight, and total phenolics, proanthocyanidin, and anthocyanin concentrations were determined at eight stages of berry development in three consecutive years (2014, 2015, and 2016). Main results: Specific weather conditions of each year affected phenolics accumulation differently. In 2014, where maximum temperatures were low and an important rainfall occurred at Stage II, both the NIr-LT and NIr-HT treatments led to the greatest concentrations of total phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. In 2015, where a little rainfall was registered at Stage II, the berries from the NIr-HT and Ir-HT treatments accumulated the greatest total phenolics and proanthocyanidin contents, but the NIr-LT and NIr-HT treatments led to the greatest accumulation of anthocyanins. Finally, in 2016, where high maximum temperatures and scarce rainfall were registered, the Ir-LT and Ir-HT treatments presented the greatest concentrations of total phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. Research highlights: A significant effect of irrigation and thinning was observed on berry size and phenolic content, as well as year × thinning interaction

Tau Protein is Associated with Longitudinal Memory Decline in Cognitively Healthy Subjects with Normal Alzheimer's Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker Levels

Background: We investigated a sample of cognitively healthy subjects with normal Alzheimer's disease (AD) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker levels to identify the earliest variables related to longitudinal memory changes. Objective: Employing a new highly demanding learning and memory test (the Ancient Farming Equipment Test; AFE-T), we aimed to investigate whether a biomarker related to neurodegeneration (i.e., CSF tau) was associated with longitudinal memory decline. Methods: Thirty-two cognitively and biologically normal (CBN) subjects underwent MRI, neuropsychological assessment, and the AFE-T at baseline and 18 months later. To explore the relationship between cognitive performance and relevant factors, a linear model was set up. For a secondary analysis that further explore the effect of tau, the subjects were divided into CBN-Tau↓ (tau  228.64 pg/ml; n = 16). We also performed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to identify regions of grey matter volume that would predict both baseline and longitudinal cognitive performance. Results: Our main finding was an association between CSF tau and longitudinal memory decline measured with AFE-T (B = -0.17, p < 0.05; r = -0.414; p < 0.01), and further analyses showed different evolvement between subgroups, with an accelerated decline in individuals with higher tau (F(1,31) = 8.37; p < 0.01). VBM results suggested that AFE-T performance is related to grey matter volume in a medial temporal, middle frontal, and posterior cerebellar network at baseline, and that there are strategic brain areas driving the longitudinal cognitive changes. Conclusions: The present findings provide evidence for structural and biological markers linked to cognitive aging by highlighting the role of tau, a marker of neurodegeneration, which can be related with the earliest memory changes in healthy subjects

Clinical Predictors of Hyperperfusion Syndrome Following Carotid Stenting: Results From a National Prospective Multicenter Study

[Objectives] The aim of the HISPANIAS (HyperperfusIon Syndrome Post-carotid ANgIoplasty And Stenting) study was to define CHS rates and develop a clinical predictive model for cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) after carotid artery stenting (CAS).[Background] CHS is a severe complication following CAS. The presence of clinical manifestations is estimated on the basis of retrospective reviews and is still uncertain.[Methods] The HISPANIAS study was a national prospective multicenter study with 14 recruiting hospitals. CHS was classified as mild (headache only) and moderate-severe (seizure, impaired level of consciousness, or development of focal neurological signs).[Results] A total of 757 CAS procedures were performed. CHS occurred in 22 (2.9%) patients, in which 16 (2.1%) had moderate-severe CHS and 6 (0.8%) had mild CHS (only headache). The rate of hemorrhages was 0.7% and was associated with high mortality (20%). Pre-operative predictors of moderate-severe CHS in multivariate analysis were female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 9.47; p = 0.03), older patients (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.17; p = 0.02), left carotid artery treated (OR: 4.13; 95% CI: 1.11 to 15.40; p = 0.03), and chronic renal failure (OR: 6.29; 95% CI: 1.75 to 22.57; p = 0.005). The area under the curve of this clinical and radiological model was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81 to 0.92; p = 0.001).[Conclusions] The rate of CHS in the HISPANIAS study was 2.9%, with moderate-severe CHS of 2.1%. CHS was independently associated with female sex, older age, history of chronic kidney disease, and a treated left carotid artery. Although further investigations are needed, the authors propose a model to identify high-risk patients and develop strategies to decrease CHS morbidity and mortality in the future.This study was supported by a Spanish grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII-FIS IP14/00971, 2014–2017). The ITRIBIS project has the registration number REGPOT-2013-1. Cooperative Cerebrovascular Disease Research Network (INVICTUS+) (RD16/0019/0015). Dr. Mancha is supported by a Río Hortega contract (CM16/00015). Abbott and Grifols have partial financial supported the conduction of the HISPANIAS project but had no role in the design of the study, interpretation of the data, or manuscript approval.Peer reviewe

Productive response of Macabeo varietie in two locations of Spain

The work was carried out on Vitis vinifera, L. (cv. Macabeo) grafted onto 110 Ritcher rootstock and cultivated in two locations of the southern half of Spain: La Albuera (Badajoz) and Villarrobledo (Albacete), during 2016 and 2017. The soil of La Albuera is clay-loam texture, 1 m deep and 160 mm/m available water capacity (AWC); respect to climate is warm, cool nights and very dry according to the classification of [1]. The Villarrobledo soil is 0.75 m deep, silty-clay-loam texture and 135 mm/m AWC; the climate is very warm, cool nights and moderately dry climate. The study consisted in maintaining during two consecutive years and in both locations, the same hydric state of grapevine, which was evaluated by measurements of midday stem water potential, and comparing productive results obtained in the two places. Results derived from the analysis of yield components, as well as those derived of grape composition (total acidity, tartaric acid, malic acid, pH, potassium and soluble solids) show little variation between locations, instead great interannual variation among the parameters studied, so the "year-variety" effect seems to influence much more to the final result than the "locality-variety", for the case under study

Productive response of Macabeo varietie in two locations of Spain

The work was carried out on Vitis vinifera, L. (cv. Macabeo) grafted onto 110 Ritcher rootstock and cultivated in two locations of the southern half of Spain: La Albuera (Badajoz) and Villarrobledo (Albacete), during 2016 and 2017. The soil of La Albuera is clay-loam texture, 1 m deep and 160 mm/m available water capacity (AWC); respect to climate is warm, cool nights and very dry according to the classification of [1]. The Villarrobledo soil is 0.75 m deep, silty-clay-loam texture and 135 mm/m AWC; the climate is very warm, cool nights and moderately dry climate. The study consisted in maintaining during two consecutive years and in both locations, the same hydric state of grapevine, which was evaluated by measurements of midday stem water potential, and comparing productive results obtained in the two places. Results derived from the analysis of yield components, as well as those derived of grape composition (total acidity, tartaric acid, malic acid, pH, potassium and soluble solids) show little variation between locations, instead great interannual variation among the parameters studied, so the "year-variety" effect seems to influence much more to the final result than the "locality-variety", for the case under study

Vine Irrigation through Two Shoot Densities in Flavonoid and Non-Flavonoid Compounds in ‘Tempranillo’ Grapes

This study aims to analyze the effects of non-limiting irrigation (I) vs. rainfed (R) through two different shoot densities, high-load (H) and low-load (L), on vegetative growth, agronomic parameters, flavonoid and non-flavonoid polyphenol substances of cv. Tempranillo grown in a semi-arid climate during three consecutive seasons (2014–2016). Under these conditions, in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, irrigation showed significant increases in berry weight (14.7% and 13.4% in H and L, respectively, in 2015, and 35.6% and 23.5% in the same treatments in 2016) and yield (66.7% and 48.5 in 2015; 27.9% and 177.5% in 2016). Additionally, a general decreasing trend is observed in anthocyanins with the exception of peonidin derivates, almost all flavonol compounds, cinnamic acid and resveratrol values with different degrees and statistical significance depending on the shoot density of the vines. A slight variation is observed in 2014 in these parameters. On the other hand, no general trends are established either in flavanol compounds or hydroxybenzoic acid. Thus, the effect of irrigation depends on the parameter considered, the shoot density of the vine and the season considered

Modeling reference evapotranspiration with calculated targets.Assessment and implications

[EN] Due to the absence of experimental reference evapotranspiration (ETo) records, data-driven models con-sider in most cases calculated ETotargets to train and test the models, usually according to the standardFAO56 Penman Monteith equation (FAO56-PM). This procedure is also adopted for calibrating moreconventional empirical approaches like the well-known Hargreaves (HG) equation. This study aims atassessing the performance implications derived from using calculated targets instead of experimentalmeasurements for training and testing data-driven models or calibrating empirical methods. Thereforean application of a gene expression programming (GEP) based approach for estimating ETois presentedconsidering calculated and lysimetric targets fed with two different input combinations and assessedthrough k-fold testing. The same procedure is adopted to evaluate the calibration of the HG equation.Finally, the FAO56-PM and the HG equations are compared with their corresponding GEP models bearingin mind the type of targets used. The locally trained GEP4 and GEP6 models trained using the experimen-tal lysimetric targets are more accurate than the corresponding HG and FAO56-PM equations, assessedusing lysimetric benchmarks. The external performance accuracy of GEP4 and GEP6 models decreasesconsiderably in the cross-station approach using experimental targets. In this case, the FAO56-PM andthe HG equations might be preferable. The accuracy of the GEP models trained with calculated targetsdecreases considerably when the performance is assessed using experimental benchmarks. The conclu-sions drawn when only calculated benchmarks are used might be not sound or even false. The sameapplies for empirical equations calibrated with calculated targets. Four new GEP-based equations (oneper input combination and station) are provided to estimate ETo.P. Marti acknowledges the financial support of the research grant Juan de la Cierva JCI-2012-13513 (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness).Martí Pérez, PC.; González Altozano, P.; López-Urrea, R.; Mancha, LA.; Shiri, J. (2015). Modeling reference evapotranspiration with calculated targets.Assessment and implications. Agricultural Water Management. 149:81-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.10.028S819014

Combined effect of crop forcing and reduced irrigation as techniques to delay the ripening and improve the quality of cv. Tempranillo (Vitis vinifera L.) berries in semi-arid climate conditions

In Mediterranean vineyards, high temperatures and scarce water resources affect the quantity and quality of harvests. Crop forcing (F) is a novel approach that consists of inducing the bud burst of buds developed during the current season in order to modify the phenology of the vine and shift berry ripening to a period of moderate temperatures. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of F on cv. Tempranillo grapes in the semi-arid conditions of Extremadura (Spain) under different water regimes. A field experiment was carried out from 2017 to 2019 in a vineyard of cv. Tempranillo with three pruning treatments: winter pruning only (NF) and two F treatments, in which, in addition to winter pruning, forced pruning was carried out at two different phenological stages, after flowering (F1) and after fruit set (F2). These treatments were subjected to two watering regimes: irrigation covering the vines' water requirements (I) and deficit irrigation (DI) with moderate water stress during the pre-harvest period. The average delay in harvest of the F treatments compared to NF was 32 and 56 days in F1 and F2, respectively, with a decrease in the average temperature during ripening (veraison to harvest). Yield was lower in F1 and F2 than in NF regardless of water regime, although yield levels were more stable between seasons in these treatments. Titratable acidity, malic acid content, total polyphenol content and total anthocyanin content increased in the F treatments, and the combined application of F and DI improved grape composition but also resulted in a higher yield penalty

Assessment of the Crop Forcing Technique and Irrigation Strategy on the Ripening of Tempranillo Grapes in a Semiarid Climate

To the memory of Jordi Marsa

The combined effect of water status and crop level on Tempranillo wine volatiles

BACKGROUND The effect of water status and crop level on the volatile composition of Tempranillo wine was investigated over two growing seasons (2010–2011) in Extremadura (Spain). Three water status treatments (T0, Rainfed control; T1, Early regulated deficit irrigation; T2, Late regulated deficit irrigation) were combined with two crop levels treatments (TH, cluster thinning; C, control). RESULTS Crop level treatment had a higher effect on individual volatiles analyzed in Tempranillo wine than water status. The combinations of water status and crop level treatments showed effects on all families of compounds with the exception of acetates and volatile fatty acids. Alcohols, C6 compounds and phenol volatiles produced the highest concentrations at the lower level of available water and when cluster thinning was applied (T0–TH). However, ethyl ester and lactones showed higher concentrations in regulated deficit irrigation (T1 and T2) and when cluster thinning was not applied. CONCLUSION The combined effect of rainfed and cluster-thinning treatments (T0–TH) increased the majority of individual aromatic compounds quantified in Tempranillo wines and also showed the highest total odor activity value.This research was supported in part by the National Institute forAgricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) researchproject RTA-2008-0037, GOBEX GR10006 Hortofruenol, and theConsejería de Economía, Innovación, Spain. M. Inmaculada Talav-erano thanks the Government of Extremadura and INIA for herscholarship. We also thank DrManuel Marcos from CACTI (VigoUniversity).Peer reviewe