Post-veraison trimming slow down sugar accumulation without modifying phenolic ripening in Sangiovese vines

J Sci Food Agric. 2019 Feb;99(3):1358-1365. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.9311. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Abstract

Background: Vineyard strategies have recently been developed to combat the effects of global warming on grapevines, which is causing grapes to ripen quickly, excessive sugar accumulation in berries, and high alcohol levels in wines. We evaluate the effectiveness of post-veraison trimming as a means of slowing down sugar accumulation, without modifying phenolic ripening, in Sangiovese vines grown in highly fertile and well watered soil.

Results: The removal of about two-thirds of the leaf area by shoot trimming after veraison led to a reduction in sugar content without affecting yield. Total and extractable anthocyanins, skin, and seed tannins showed no significant variation at harvest after the treatment during the three-year trial, while the replenishment of carbohydrates in canes at the end of the trial was negatively affected.

Conclusions: These results indicate that, in highly fertile and well-watered soil, post-veraison trimming may represent a powerful tool for decreasing sugar concentration during harvest without affecting yield or total and extractable phenolic compounds. However, the reduction in starch reserves compared to the control serves as a warning about repeated trimming over the years. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: anthocyanin; phenolic maturity; source limitation; tannin; technological maturity.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins / analysis
  • Anthocyanins / metabolism
  • Crop Production / methods*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Fruit / metabolism
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Sugars / analysis
  • Sugars / metabolism*
  • Tannins / analysis
  • Tannins / metabolism
  • Vitis / chemistry
  • Vitis / growth & development
  • Vitis / metabolism*
  • Wine / analysis*

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Phenols
  • Sugars
  • Tannins