Physicochemical characterization of ‘Pinot Noir’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) fruit during its growth and development under high altitude tropical conditions

Abstract

Although native of temperate climates, grapevines are grown<br />in Colombia in the department of Boyaca, between 2,200 and<br />2,560 m a.s.l. Under these specific conditions, both the physicochemical<br />behavior<br />of the fruit and its optimum harvest time<br />as measured in growing degree days (GDD) had remained unknown<br />so far. On these grounds, in the municipality of Nobsa<br />(Boyaca, Colombia),<br />grapevines of the variety Pinot Noir were<br />physico-chemically characterized during their growth and<br />development. Since day 21 after anthesis (DAA ) until overripening,<br />the physicochemical characteristics<br />of 20 berries from<br />each of three clusters we collected every week were carefully<br />assessed. A total of 826.2 GDD accumulated during fruit growth<br />and development, thus completing 126 DAA . The accumulation<br />of both fresh and dry mass followed double sigmoid curves.<br />During early growth there was a decrease in pH, total soluble<br />solids (TSS ) and technological maturity index (TMI =TSS /<br />TTA ), coupled to an increase in total titratable acidity (TTA ).<br />After this period and until harvest, pH, TSS and TMI increased<br />while TTA declined. Based on fresh mass, SST and TMI it was<br />possible to set optimum harvest time at 800.6 GDD.

Keywords

• tropical viniculture, temperature accumulation, phenological stages.