Articles
‘Piwi’ cultivars for La Rioja: innovation for improved sustainability
Article number
1418_27
Pages
217 – 222
Language
English
Abstract
Control of fungal diseases is one of the most important challenges in viticulture due to the high amount of fungicide products that winegrowers need to apply every season.
Moreover, the economic relevance of grapevine makes improving sustainability an urgent need. Erysiphe necator and Plasmopara viticola are the most damaging fungal diseases in European viticulture.
Several major genes have been identified in American and Asian germplasm and the breeding of resistant cultivars (‘Piwi’) is now a good alternative for a sustainable production.
Introduction of new cultivars is complicated, among other reasons, by the winegrowers’ resistance to adopting new germplasm.
A two-year evaluation of agronomic (growth cycle, yield, berry size) and must parameters (total acidity, pH and probable alcoholic degree) of 9 ‘Piwi’ cultivars was carried out in La Rioja.
Microvinifications were conducted on five white cultivars: ‘Sauvignon Kretos’, ‘S. Nepis’, ‘S. Rytos’, ‘Soreli’, ‘Fleurtai’ and four red cultivars: ‘Cabernet Volos’, ‘C. Eidos’, ‘Merlot Khorus’ and ‘Julius’ in 2 different seasons with and without disease pressure.
At the agronomic level, results showed significant differences between cultivars; Sauvignon Nepis and ‘Julius’ were very early maturing compared with controls (Tempranillo and Viura) and ‘Soreli’ and ‘Merlot Khorus’ showed late-maturing dates in both years.
Differences in production were also observed with mean yields ranging from 2 kg plant-1 (‘Julius’, ‘S. Nepis’) to 5 kg plant-1 (‘Soreli’) without disease pressure (2022) and lower yields in 2023. Regarding must parameters, significant differences were found among cultivars in pH, total acidity and alcohol content.
Sauvignon Nepis (6.6±0.08 g L-1) and ‘Merlot Khorus’ (4.6±0.12 g L-1) wines showed the highest total acidity in both vintages.
Wine total polyphenolic content was highest in C. Volos and ‘Julius’ and values were higher than Tempranillo for all ‘Piwi’ red cultivars.
Results would be useful for paving the way for the introduction of new grape cultivars with improved sustainability derived from Rioja germplasm.
Moreover, the economic relevance of grapevine makes improving sustainability an urgent need. Erysiphe necator and Plasmopara viticola are the most damaging fungal diseases in European viticulture.
Several major genes have been identified in American and Asian germplasm and the breeding of resistant cultivars (‘Piwi’) is now a good alternative for a sustainable production.
Introduction of new cultivars is complicated, among other reasons, by the winegrowers’ resistance to adopting new germplasm.
A two-year evaluation of agronomic (growth cycle, yield, berry size) and must parameters (total acidity, pH and probable alcoholic degree) of 9 ‘Piwi’ cultivars was carried out in La Rioja.
Microvinifications were conducted on five white cultivars: ‘Sauvignon Kretos’, ‘S. Nepis’, ‘S. Rytos’, ‘Soreli’, ‘Fleurtai’ and four red cultivars: ‘Cabernet Volos’, ‘C. Eidos’, ‘Merlot Khorus’ and ‘Julius’ in 2 different seasons with and without disease pressure.
At the agronomic level, results showed significant differences between cultivars; Sauvignon Nepis and ‘Julius’ were very early maturing compared with controls (Tempranillo and Viura) and ‘Soreli’ and ‘Merlot Khorus’ showed late-maturing dates in both years.
Differences in production were also observed with mean yields ranging from 2 kg plant-1 (‘Julius’, ‘S. Nepis’) to 5 kg plant-1 (‘Soreli’) without disease pressure (2022) and lower yields in 2023. Regarding must parameters, significant differences were found among cultivars in pH, total acidity and alcohol content.
Sauvignon Nepis (6.6±0.08 g L-1) and ‘Merlot Khorus’ (4.6±0.12 g L-1) wines showed the highest total acidity in both vintages.
Wine total polyphenolic content was highest in C. Volos and ‘Julius’ and values were higher than Tempranillo for all ‘Piwi’ red cultivars.
Results would be useful for paving the way for the introduction of new grape cultivars with improved sustainability derived from Rioja germplasm.
Publication
Authors
S.I. Blanco-González, M.M. Hernández, C.M. Menéndez
Keywords
Vitis vinifera, powdery mildew, downy mildew, genetic resistance
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