AROMATIC POTENTIAL OF GRAPEVINES CULTIVATED IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN TUNISIA

The effects of location (environmental conditions) on the yield components, chemical characteristics and aromatic composition of three grapevine cultivars (‘Ahmar Bou Ahmar’, ‘Sakasly’ and ‘Muscat of Alexandria’) grown in northern and southern Tunisia, were evaluated.
The southern location is characterized by a Saharan desert climate whereas the northern location has a semi-arid climate.
The Saharan environment (high temperature and low relative humidity) reduced berry weight and soluble solids for each cultivar.
The highest concentrations of free and bound monoterpenes were measured in ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ at both sites compared with the other cultivars.
Total free monoterpenes (MT = linalool + nerol + geraniol) levels in ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ grown in the north was above the Muscat aroma perception threshold.
That cultivar had lower MT values with less Muscat flavour when grown in the south.
The levels of free MT of ‘Ahmar Bou Ahmar’ and ‘Sakasly’ were greater in the south compared to the north despite perceived and measured fruit quality.
Linalool was most sensitive to the southern location’s conditions as its free MT levels decreased more than 3-fold for all cultivars in comparison to the north.
Geraniol, which was greater at the southern location, was the most important monoterpenol for the native Tunisian cultivars, ‘Ahmar Bou Ahmar’ and ‘Sakasly’.

VII International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology

H. Zemni, I. Souid, A. Ben Salem, M. Hammami, N. Fathalli, A. Mliki, A. Ghorbel, R. Hellali

Environmental conditions, Saharan climate, Muscat grape, Tunisian grape cultivars, grape quality, monoterpenes

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.689.6