Underperforming young vines, water stress and Petri disease
Petri disease is a grapevine trunk disease responsible for the decline and dying of young vines a few years after planting. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch) is one of the main Petri…
Leaning canopy experiment to better utilise favourable sunlight hours and minimise radiation
Researchers in Spain aimed to study different field strategies to help growers adapt to hot and arid climate conditions. VSP-trained vineyard canopy orientation relative to the sun path can be…
Sugar levels in alcohol-free wines
The global wine industry faces significant challenges, including a decline in per capita consumption, particularly among young consumers who are reducing alcohol intake for health and wellness reasons. In response,…
New study to revolutionise grapevine leafroll identification using artificial intelligence
Stellenbosch University researchers are harnessing artificial intelligence to streamline the identification of grapevine leafroll disease, a significant threat to South Africa's wine industry. A groundbreaking research project led by Prof…
Fermentation temperature and sustainable winemaking
Over the years, winemakers have adopted a variety of commercially available microorganisms to control different aspects of fermentation. This has allowed for more consistent and manageable results, but as the…
A potentially different approach to combat grapevine viral diseases
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process that helps plants and other organisms defend against viruses. It is activated when the plant detects double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the virus. Scientists…
Effects of pruning technique on grapevine trunk disease development
It is known that grapevine trunk diseases infect vines via pruning wounds. They colonise and spread throughout the vascular tissue affecting sap flow and subsequent vine performance. Researchers in Cognac…
The effects of vine spacing of Shiraz on grape and wine quality
Vine spacing effects of Shiraz/101-14 Mgt on a relatively high potential soil in the Breede River Valley, Robertson, South Africa, on grape composition and wine quality were investigated. Experimental…
The effects of vine spacing of Shiraz on establishment, and vegetative and reproductive growth
Knowledge of vine growth reaction to plant spacing under relatively high potential soil conditions is limited. This study aimed to determine the effects of vine spacing (with fixed row spacing)…
Mycorrhizal fungi and vine performance
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are an integral part of the rhizosphere and assist with nutrient uptake in plant roots, making them an attractive option for use as biofertilisers. This Washinton State…