The Interplay between Atmospheric Conditions and Grape Berry Quality Parameters in Portugal

The atmospheric conditions are a strong modulator of grape berry composition, but further research is required to better understand this relationship, which is particularly pertinent under the context of climate change. The present study assesses the relationship between interannual variability in atmospheric conditions (mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures and precipitation totals) on grape berry quality attributes in three main Portuguese wine regions—Douro, Dão and Alentejo—and targets two major varieties growing in Portugal (cv. Touriga Nacional and cv. Aragonez/Tempranillo). Berry weight, titratable acidity (TA), pH, potential alcohol (PA), anthocyanins and total phenols index (TPI) data, collected two to three weeks after the end of the veraison until technological maturity, since 1999 in Douro, 2004 in Alentejo and 2008 in Dão, were selected. Meteorological data were obtained from both automatic weather stations and a climatic database defined at a very-high-resolution grid (<1 km) (PTHRES). The influence of daily mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures (November–October) and precipitation totals (April to June and July to September) on the above-mentioned berry quality parameters were first explored to identify the months/periods more influential to grape berry composition. Different statistical approaches were subsequently carried out to explore in greater detail these relationships. At technological maturity, temperature was negatively correlated to berry weight, titratable acidity, anthocyanins and TPI, but was positively correlated to pH and potential alcohol. Moreover, lowest levels of berry weight and TA (and highest levels of pH) were more frequent in warmer regions, while the opposite was seen in the cooler regions. PA, TPI and anthocyanins at maturity did not show a clear trend across regions. In addition, the maturation parameters of each site were grouped into two clusters—years where the maturation parameter is higher (cluster 1) and years where it is lower (cluster 2)—and significant differences in monthly mean temperatures between clusters were found. Overall, temperatures at veraison and maturation periods (June–August) were more influential in determining grape berry composition at harvest. The influence of precipitation was dependent on location and variety. The results also suggested that berry composition in Alentejo is more sensitive to atmospheric variability, while Aragonez seems more resilient than Touriga Nacional. These outcomes are based on a systematized and unprecedentedly large grape berry quality database in Portugal and provided the grounds for the development of grape quality forecast models, either to be used operationally in each vintage or for assessing potential modifications in berry composition in response to changing climates.

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EVALUATION OF SELECTED FRUIT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES FOR SEVEN STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.26.5.495g ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 495g-496

Author(s):

N.O. Maness ◽

D.R. Chrz ◽

K. Striegler ◽

I Wahem ◽

T.G. McCollum

Keyword(s):

Titratable Acidity ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Measured Parameter ◽

Fruit Characteristics ◽

A Value ◽

Berry Weight ◽

Berry Quality ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Strawberry Cultivars

Fresh strawberries are highly perishable commodities, and berry quality at harvest delimits their potential shelf life. We are conducting harvest quality evaluations for seven commercially available cultivars. Seven different fruit characteristics were chosen to assess cultivar performance during the early, middle and late phases of the picking season: marketable berry yield, berry weight, berry firmness, berry color (“a” value), percept soluble solids, titratable acidity (percent citric acid) and the ratio between soluble solids and titratable acidity. Marketable berry yield, berry weight and berry firmness varied substantially between cultivars. A few differences were observed between cultivars for berry color. Berry flavor, as evidenced by the ratio between soluble solids and acidity, was also apparently different between cultivars with three of the seven cultivars consistently exhibiting higher ratios. The relationship of each measured parameter to quality will be discussed.

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Modeling Carbon Balance and Sugar Content of Vitis vinifera under Two Different Trellis Systems

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10081675 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1675

Author(s):

Linda Salvi ◽

Eleonora Cataldo ◽

Sofia Sbraci ◽

Francesca Paoli ◽

Maddalena Fucile ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Balance ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Training Systems ◽

Grape Quality ◽

Practical Tool ◽

Set Up ◽

Berry Composition

Environmental factors might influence the carbon balance and sugar content in grapevine. In this two-year research, the STELLA software was employed to predict dry matter accumulation in Sangiovese vines, comparing the traditional vertical shoot positioning (VSP) and the single high wire (SHW) trellis systems. Every week, vegetative, eco-physiological and grape quality parameters were collected for 15 tagged vines per trellis system to set up the software. Significant differences in photosynthesis were recorded in 2014, with higher values in VSP (23–25% more). Shoot growth was significantly higher in VSP (20–25% more), whereas higher dry matter (30%) and yield (9–11% more) were detected for SHW. At harvest, berry composition suggested a slower ripening in SHW compared to VSP, which was linked to the shading of clusters in SHW. Finally, for the first time, linear regressions were found between measured berry sugar content and STELLA-estimated dry matter (R2 = 0.96 in VSP; R2 = 0.95 in SHW). This latter evidence allowed the estimation of berry sugar content, showing this software to be a practical tool to support winegrowers in decision making. Other studies are already underway to calibrate and validate the model for other varieties, training systems and environments.

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In-row Vegetation-free Strip Width Effect on Established ‘Navaho’ Blackberry

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.85 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 85-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nicholas T. Basinger ◽

Katherine M. Jennings ◽

David W. Monks ◽

Wayne E. Mitchem ◽

Penelope M. Perkins-Veazie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Strip Width ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Cumulative Yield ◽

Current Recommendation ◽

Berry Weight ◽

Berry Quality

AbstractA field study was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in an established 5-yr old commercial blackberry planting to determine the effect of vegetation-free strip width (VFSW) on ‘Navaho’ blackberry vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality parameters, identify the optimum VFSW for blackberry plantings in the southeastern USA, and provide practical groundcover management recommendations that can increase the productivity of blackberry plantings. In Fall 2013, tall fescue was seeded in-row and allowed to establish. In Spring 2014, VFSW treatments (0, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.8 m) were established in a randomized complete block statistical design with four replications. Blackberry growth measurements included primocane and floricane number, cane diam, individual fruit weight and yield. Fruit quality measurements included, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and pH. Primocane number increased with increasing VFSW in both years. Floricane number increased with increasing VFSW in 2014. Primocane diam decreased with increasing VFSW in 2014 but had a quadratic response in 2015. Berry weight and cumulative yield increased with increasing VFSW in both years. The only berry quality component affected by VFSW was pH, which decreased as VFSW increased. Results indicate that widening the VFSW in blackberry from the current recommendation of 1.2 m to 1.8 m could provide growers a means to increase plant growth, berry weight, and cumulative yield blackberry of a planting.

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Silicates of Potassium and Aluminium (Kaolin); Comparative Foliar Mitigation Treatments and Biochemical Insight on Grape Berry Quality in Vitis vinifera L. (cv. Touriga National and Touriga Franca)

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology9030058 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

Rupesh Kumar Singh ◽

Jessica Afonso ◽

Marta Nogueira ◽

Ana A. Oliveira ◽

Fernanda Cosme ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitis Vinifera ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

Grape Berry ◽

Vitis Vinifera L ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Sunshine Hours ◽

Berry Quality ◽

Total Anthocyanins ◽

Berry Composition ◽

Monomeric Anthocyanins

Grapevine physiology is influenced by several environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and sunshine hours. Due to climatic changes, effects in grapevine physiology and consequently on the grape berry composition and quality have been observed. This work aims to make a comparative study of the effect of foliar mitigation treatment with kaolin (5%) and potassium silicates (0.1% and 0.05%) on the grape berry quality; namely on berry weight, pH, probable alcohol, total phenolics, tannins, total anthocyanins, monomeric anthocyanins, calcium, potassium, and magnesium composition from Portuguese grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca). The results suggested that the phenolic composition and anthocyanin content differs between treatments while other parameters showed distinct behavior among the different applications. Qualitative parameters observed in the present study suggested non-significant changes upon both the applications.

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How terroir affects bunch uniformity, ripening and berry composition in Vitis vinifera cvs. Carignan and Grenache

OENO One ◽

10.20870/oeno-one.2013.47.1.1533 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maite Edo-Roca ◽

Montse Nadal ◽

Míriam Lampreave

Keyword(s):

Sugar Content ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Total Phenols ◽

Line Pattern ◽

Harvest Time ◽

Seed Maturity ◽

Berry Weight ◽

Straight Line ◽

Berry Composition ◽

Kinetics Of

Aims: Vineyards from early and late terroir were evaluated during ripening to determine optimal grape composition, with special emphasis on bunch uniformity.Methods and results: Four treatments were studied over three years : Carignan and Grenache in two terroir, early and late. Samples were divided into two parts (top and bottom half of the bunch) in order to determine berry weight, sugar content, titratable acidity, total and extractable anthocyanins, total phenols, and seed maturity. The results showed bunch uniformity in Carignan. The kinetics of berry maturity generally showed a straight line pattern in Grenache while in Carignan it varied. For both cultivars, berry weight and yield were higher in the late parcel, whereas anthocyanins were more concentrated in the early terroir.Conclusion: Pulp maturity is less influenced by the terroir effect than phenolic maturity. Vintage or terroir affect Carignan more consistently than Grenache. Carignan does not achieve complete phenolic ripeness in the late mesoclimate. In warm years, Grenache grapes should be gathered as soon as the pulp reaches the optimal sugar level because the accumulation of anthocyanins does not improve when the harvest is delayed beyond that point.Significance and impact of the study: The evaluation of phenolic maturity in relation to terroir and bunch uniformity contributes to defining ideal harvest time and optimizing winery management.

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Berry Quality and Anthocyanin Content of ‘Consort’ Black Currants Grown under Artificial Shade

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 766

Author(s):

Eric Wolske ◽

Laura Chatham ◽

John Juvik ◽

Bruce Branham

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Photosynthetically Active Radiation ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Black Currant ◽

Active Radiation ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Berry Quality

The effect of artificial shade on berry quality parameters for the field-grown black currant cultivar ‘Consort’ were investigated over two growing seasons in Urbana, Illinois. Four shade treatments reduced photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) from 37 to 83%. Shade had no effect on soluble solids in up to 65% PAR reduction but decreased 11% in 83% shade in one of two years. Shade increased titratable acidity up to 23% in both years. The effect of shade on anthocyanin content revealed greater variation between years than treatments. Shade influence on anthocyanin content was only observed in 2017, when cyanidin derivatives decreased 13–14% from open-sun to 83% shade. Shade did not affect delphinidin derivatives in either year. Environmental factors other than artificial shade may impact black currant berry quality in an understory environment. The results of our study indicate that black currants can maintain berry quality with PAR reductions up to 65%, but some berry quality parameters may decrease when PAR reductions exceed 65% of full sun.

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Preliminary Insights in Sensory Profile of Sweet Cherries

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 612

Author(s):

Vânia Silva ◽

Sandra Pereira ◽

Alice Vilela ◽

Eunice Bacelar ◽

Francisco Guedes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sweet Cherry ◽

Prunus Avium ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Principal Component ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Sensory Profile ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Sensory Data

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a fruit appreciated by consumers for its well-known physical and sensory characteristics and its health benefits. Being an extremely perishable fruit, it is important to know the unique attributes of the cultivars to develop cultivation or postharvest strategies that can enhance their quality. This study aimed to understand the influence of physicochemical characteristics of two sweet cherry cultivars, Burlat and Van, on the food quality perception. Several parameters (weight, dimensions, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), colour, and texture) were measured and correlated with sensory data. Results showed that cv. Van presented heavier and firmer fruits with high sugar content. In turn, cv. Burlat showed higher pH, lower TA, and presented redder and brightest fruits. The principal component analysis revealed an evident separation between cultivars. Van cherries stood out for their sensory parameters and were classified as more acidic, bitter, and astringent, and presented a firmer texture. Contrarily, Burlat cherries were distinguished as being more flavourful, succulent, sweeter, and more uniform in terms of visual and colour parameters. The results of the sensory analysis suggested that perceived quality does not always depend on and/or recognize the quality parameters inherent to the physicochemical characteristics of each cultivar.

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The Exploitation of Local Vitis vinifera L. Biodiversity as a Valuable Tool to Cope with Climate Change Maintaining Berry Quality

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 71

Author(s):

María Carmen Antolín ◽

María Toledo ◽

Inmaculada Pascual ◽

Juan José Irigoyen ◽

Nieves Goicoechea

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Co2 Concentration ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Vitis Vinifera L ◽

Grape Quality ◽

Berry Quality ◽

Carbon Dioxide Co2

(1) Background: The associated increase in global mean surface temperature together with raised atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is exerting a profound influence on grapevine development (phenology) and grape quality. The exploitation of the local genetic diversity based on the recovery of ancient varieties has been proposed as an interesting option to cope with climate change and maintaining grape quality. Therefore, this research aimed to characterize the potential fruit quality of genotypes from seven local old grapevine varieties grown under climate change conditions. (2) Methods: The study was carried out on fruit-bearing cuttings (one cluster per plant) that were grown in pots in temperature gradient greenhouses (TGG). Two treatments were applied from fruit set to maturity: (1) ambient CO2 (400 ppm) and temperature (T) (ACAT) and (2) elevated CO2 (700 ppm) and temperature (T + 4 °C) (ECET). (3) Results: Results showed that some of the old genotypes tested remained quite stable during the climate change conditions in terms of fruit quality (mainly, total soluble solids and phenolic content) and of must antioxidant properties. (4) Conclusion: This research underlines the usefulness of exploiting local grapevine diversity to cope with climate change successfully, although further studies under field conditions and with whole plants are needed before extrapolating the results to the vineyard.

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Effect of Cross-Linked Alginate/Oil Nanoemulsion Coating on Cracking and Quality Parameters of Sweet Cherries

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10020449 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 449

Author(s):

Camilo Gutiérrez-Jara ◽

Cristina Bilbao-Sainz ◽

Tara McHugh ◽

Bor-Sen Chiou ◽

Tina Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Titratable Acidity ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Solid Content ◽

Postharvest Quality ◽

Soluble Solid Content ◽

Nutritional Values ◽

Quality Properties ◽

Vapor Transfer ◽

Sweet Cherries ◽

Soluble Solid

The cracking of sweet cherries causes significant crop losses. Sweet cherries (cv. Bing) were coated by electro-spraying with an edible nanoemulsion (NE) of alginate and soybean oil with or without a CaCl2 cross-linker to reduce cracking. Coated sweet cherries were stored at 4 °C for 28 d. The barrier and fruit quality properties and nutritional values of the coated cherries were evaluated and compared with those of uncoated sweet cherries. Sweet cherries coated with NE + CaCl2 increased cracking tolerance by 53% and increased firmness. However, coated sweet cherries exhibited a 10% increase in water loss after 28 d due to decreased resistance to water vapor transfer. Coated sweet cherries showed a higher soluble solid content, titratable acidity, antioxidant capacity, and total soluble phenolic content compared with uncoated sweet cherries. Therefore, the use of the NE + CaCl2 coating on sweet cherries can help reduce cracking and maintain their postharvest quality.

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Comprehensive Study of Variety Oenological Potential Using Statistic Tools for the Efficient Use of Non-Renewable Resources

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11094003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 4003

Author(s):

Sílvia Petronilho ◽

Alisa Rudnitskaya ◽

Manuel A. Coimbra ◽

Sílvia M. Rocha

Keyword(s):

Renewable Resources ◽

Antiradical Activity ◽

Total Phenolics ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Grape Berry ◽

Total Sugars ◽

Components Analysis ◽

Harvest Year ◽

Grape Varieties ◽

Comprehensive Study

The evaluation of the variety suitability regarding each appellation’s specificities should be a strategy for maximizing the varieties’ oenological potential while contributing to the sustainable production of quality wines, keeping their typicity and rationalizing winemaking costs. Thus, the combination of several grape physicochemical attributes, modulated by climate and vineyard characteristics, providing knowledge for each grape variety’s oenological potential, is a relevant and reliable support for winemakers’ decisions. To prove this hypothesis, six mature grape varieties from three harvests, each one from three vineyard parcels with different topographical conditions from Bairrada Appellation (Portugal), were studied using analysis of variance–simultaneous components analysis (ASCA). The effects of harvest year and parcel on grape berry weight, pH, titratable acidity, total sugars, total phenolics, antiradical activity, and volatile composition in free and glycosidically-linked forms were analyzed. The compositional plasticity of autochthonous varieties (white Arinto and Bical and red Baga, Castelão, and Touriga Nacional) was observed. Sauvignon Blanc grape composition was significantly modulated by harvest. This study represents an important contribution for the maintenance of varieties’ biodiversity while contributing to establishing their peculiarities. Autochthonous varieties, if accurately exploited, can provide higher characteristic diversity than worldwide used varieties, an aspect to be more objectively taken into consideration by winemakers.

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