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Post‐veraison trimming slow down sugar accumulation without modifying phenolic ripening in Sangiovese vines
Author(s) -
Valentini Gabriele,
Allegro Gianluca,
Pastore Chiara,
Colucci Emilia,
Filippetti Ilaria
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.9311
Subject(s) - veraison , ripening , vineyard , sugar , trimming , horticulture , starch , yield (engineering) , berry , chemistry , botany , biology , food science , materials science , computer science , metallurgy , operating system
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