Improved berry and wine quality of <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. cv. Gewürztraminer grown in an arid climate using a Y-shaped training system
Yaara Zohar,
Kidanemaryam Reta,
Elyashiv Drori,
Udi Gliksman,
Shiki Rauchberger,
Einat Bar,
Efraim Lewinsohn,
Nurit Agam,
Aaron Fait
Affiliations
Yaara Zohar
The Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000 - The Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Dryland, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000
Kidanemaryam Reta
The Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000 - The Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Dryland, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000
Elyashiv Drori
Ariel University, Department of Chemical engineering, Ariel - Eastern regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700
Udi Gliksman
Teperberg Winery, P.O.B 669 Mobile Samson, Tzora, 9980300
Shiki Rauchberger
Teperberg Winery, P.O.B 669 Mobile Samson, Tzora, 9980300
Einat Bar
Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Volcani center, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Efraim Lewinsohn
Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Volcani center, Ramat Yishay 30095
Nurit Agam
The Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Dryland, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000
Aaron Fait
The Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Dryland, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000
Recent global climatic changes have highlighted viticulture in arid/semiarid regions as an increasingly relevant study model. Grapes in arid regions face excessive solar irradiance, leading to more than 50 °C berry surface temperatures in exposed berries. The resultant oxidative stress, sunburn necrosis, and browning consistently reduce berry quality. Adapting an adequate training system to the climate and cultivar is a simple and inexpensive method to control the radiation regime. This study compares the berry and wine characteristics and compositional components of desert-grown Vitis vinifera L. cv. Gewürztraminer, trained on either a Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) system or a Y-shaped training system (SAYM, Sistema di Allevamendo ad Ypsilon Integralmente Meccanizzabile), a method with a higher canopy light interception. The SAYM training reduced direct radiation and concomitant heat in the cluster zone and significantly alleviated oxidative stress in berries in the 2016/17 season. In addition, SAYM-grown berries were preferable in terms of quality and productivity. Correspondingly, a sensorial analysis rated SAYM wines higher than VSP wines in all categories. Photosynthetic pigment content in the berries' skin showed similarities between VSP and SAYM, and a volatile compound analysis of the wines by GC-MS revealed a higher ester content in the wines derived from SAYM vines, along with a higher content of compounds linked to Gewürztraminer wine typicity (varietal characteristics such as esters, terpenoids, and alcohols).
