The use of cover crops in Mediterranean vineyards is growing in popularity due to their numerous benefits for soil health. However, the area under the vines is often left bare to prevent competition of resources through conventional practices (e.g. tillage and/or the use of herbicide) that have negative effects on soil health. In this study, we assessed the impact of under-vine cover crops (UVC) based on legumes (Lotus corniculatus L. and Medicago truncatula Gaertn) on soil health and vine performance under different soil and climatic conditions at a regional scale in a Mediterranean area, compared with under-vine tillage as a control (CTR). Results showed that UVC did not affect soil structure, but it improved labile soil organic carbon (C in particulate organic matter and water-soluble C) and soil biological properties (soil respiration, microbial biomass C) in the three vineyards. As for vineyard agronomic performance, UVC led to a decrease in yield with a minor impact on berry composition (total acidity reduction). These differences were site-specific, and the vineyard with the most humid climate and the most clayey soil experienced the greatest improvement in soil health without any loss of yield whilst maintaining berry quality.

The P.D.O. Campo de Borja faces a challenge regarding its viticultural heritage, where the total Grenache surface area, over 2.000 ha are estimated to be between 30 and 50 years old, while 144 ha exceed 50 years old. The dating of these vineyards could be important for their preservation and commercial valorisation. However, official records occasionally lack sufficient detailed information about the planting dates. For this reason, this study aims to provide a tool for the certification and management of ‘old vineyards’ by combining historical aerial photographs, morphological characterisation, and plant material analysis. The aerial photography methodology integrated a time series of aerial photographs, from the American flight (1956–1957) to current PNOA flights (2024), providing insights into possible planting years as well as the spatial pattern and training systems of the plots. The results show that traditional free gobelet systems consistently exceeded mean ages of 45–50 years, with the tresbolillo pattern reaching the highest age ranges. In contrast, modern trellised systems and wider inter-row spacing (3–3.5 m) were 17 years-old in average. Furthermore, morphological analysis was useful in refining age ranges obtained through aerial photography. Finally, the identification of plant material, allowed for the classification of vineyards into three age groups based on the specific rootstocks identified. Overall, this study shows that combining multidisciplinary methodologies can refine the estimation of planting years, providing a basis for the official certification of historical plots and the long-term management of the viticultural landscape.

Grafting has been fundamental in viticulture since the phylloxera crisis of the late 19th century; nevertheless, the functional consequences of vascular connection on the graft union remain poorly understood. The effects of grafting on Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo (Te) were evaluated using two complementary approaches: (1) cambial alignment, comparing completely aligned (CA) versus partially aligned (PA) unions; and (2) grafting and scion-rootstock interaction, comparing heterografts (Te/110R and Te/RG8), homografts (Te/Te), and ungrafted Te cuttings. These approaches were tested through three experiments: a vineyard trial and two pot trials under well-watered (WW), moderate water stress (MWS), and recovery (R) regimes. In the vineyard, CA plants exhibited greater vegetative growth and gas exchange, particularly on 110R, whereas the vigorous RG8 rootstock mitigated the effects of misalignment. Under MWS conditions, CA adopted a drought-avoidant strategy with earlier stomatal closure and higher root allocation, whereas PA maintained higher stomatal conductance, recovered photosynthesis faster after rewatering, and prioritised shoot and rootstock growth, especially on RG8. Finally, grafted plants were more sensitive to water stress than ungrafted plants, while homografts accumulated the greatest biomass and root investment, suggesting more efficient vascular connectivity compared with heterografts. Our study highlights that cambial alignment, grafting, and partner interactions influence plant development and physiological performance; however, long-term studies are needed to clarify how vascular connectivity at the graft union affects transport processes, stress responses, and ultimately vine longevity under different scion-rootstock combinations.

OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND:Climate change has raised concerns about the imbalance between anthocyanin and sugar levels in grapevines. High temperatures tend to reduce anthocyanin content by inhibiting its synthesis and increasing degradation, while simultaneously enhancing sugar accumulation. The application of elicitors, which promote the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, may help alleviate this imbalance. METHODS:To investigate this, a four-year field trial was conducted on Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo to assess the effects of four commercial products: two natural-based (an antioxidant-mannitol and an alginic acid-mannitol products) and two phytohormone-based (an abscisic acid and an ethephon-based products). The study evaluated the effect of these treatments on the phenyl propanoid pathway gene expression, various yield parameters, and the content of primary and secondary metabolites. RESULTS:Although none of the treatments consistently increased anthocyanin levels across seasons, the results varied depending on the year. Two products influenced some parameters in specific seasons: the ethephon-based product, which influenced the anthocyanin-to-sugar ratio through the reduction of TSS and induced the expression of key anthocyanin genes, and the natural-based antioxidant-mannitol product, which transiently increased the expression of some phenylpropanoid genes. CONCLUSIONS:None of the treatments increased anthocyanin levels across seasons. Ethephon (Fruitel) showed greater effectiveness under temperature stress and reduced sugar accumulation, which may be advantageous in a warming climate. Natural elicitors like antioxidant-mannitol elicitor (Vitalfit) had short-term effects on gene expression but no lasting impact on anthocyanins. Further research is needed to assess their influence on other polyphenols and their potential for commercial use. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in grapevine production systems. However, little is known about how this relationship is achieved in the nursery and how soil management might modify it and its derived benefits. Here, we review the current knowledge on the establishment of grapevine-AMF relationships from the nursery to the field, the main factors that affect the effectiveness of the symbiosis, the potential role of AMF as biostimulants in grapevine production systems, and the future perspectives of their use in the current context of climate change. The process of establishing mycorrhizal symbiosis is complex, and the molecular dialogue between the plant roots and the fungus is still not yet fully understood. During vine plant production, rooting occurs in nurseries, where spontaneous symbiosis can be generated. The effectiveness of mycorrhizal symbiosis appears to depend not only on the identity of the fungus but also on the diversity of the vine material and soil management. Finally, the use of AMF as biostimulants might be an effective strategy with which to face the new climatic scenario, but further research dealing with the application of AMF inocula and the protection of native cohorts should be conducted.

The success of grafting in grapevine nurseries can vary significantly depending on the wood used, even if the same scion and rootstock are used, yet the underlying causes of this variation remain poorly understood. To elucidate the factors influencing grafting success, rootstock wood (Vitis berlandieri x V. rupestris cv. 110 Richter) from ten production fields - each representing different rootstock origins - in Spain and France was characterised and grafted to cv. Tempranillo, and grafting success rates were subsequently determined. Histological analysis of the rootstock canes was carried out to evaluate tissue dimensions (pith, xylem, and phloem), number of xylem vessels, and hydraulic conductivity, revealing significant differences, particularly in the size and presence of large vessels. Metabolite analysis (starch, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and proteins) and isotopic composition (δ 13C and δ 15N) further differentiated the batches. Grafting success rates were recorded after uprooting and showed positive associations with parameters of water status (δ 13C), nitrogen assimilation (δ 15N), and anatomical characteristics of the rootstock canes. These findings underscore the complex interaction of physiological, anatomical, and environmental factors influencing grafting outcomes in grapevines.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in grapevine pruning. This growing focus has emerged as a response to the long-term issues that poor pruning practices have caused in vineyards. Decades of neglecting fundamental principles of pruning, driven by a focus on increasing yields and reducing costs, have probably contributed significantly to vineyard decline. This renewed attention seeks to reverse the damage done by poor practices, emphasising the importance of proper wound management, sap flow preservation, and a more thoughtful approach to vine care - ultimately aiming to enhance vine longevity and health - which is commonly known as “gentle” or “respectful” pruning.

Rootstock mother fields supply the cuttings used in the grafted grapevine propagation process, and their productivity is essential for the nursery production. In southern Europe, mother fields are usually managed with a ground-level pruning system, which provides high yields but increases sanitary and management risks. Dense canopies favour humid microclimates and large pruning wounds increase the incidence of trunk diseases. Trellis systems have been proposed as alternatives to mitigate these risks, but their productive performance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vegetative growth of three vertical trellis systems: elevated crown, alternate crown, and vertical axis, in two rootstock mother fields, and to compare their cutting productivity with that of the traditional ground-level system once the trellis vines were fully established. The trial was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in a commercial rootstock mother field in Soria, Spain, using two Vitis berlandieri × V. rupestris hybrids (110 Richter and 140 Ruggeri). The experimental design consisted of three trellis systems arranged in four replicates of 12 vines each, following a randomised block design. Pruning weight increased significantly with vine age but was unaffected by trellis system. Cutting yield differed between rootstocks, with 140 Ruggeri producing about twice as many cuttings as 110 Richter. The comparison between trellis and ground-level systems showed that the former increased labour requirements and reduced cutting yields. Although trellis systems challenge their adoption for commercial rootstock propagation under the dry-summer conditions of this study, their potential to reduce fungal disease incidence and improve canopy management may offer advantages in a transition towards a more sustainable nursery process.

One of the most important effects of climate change in wine-growing areas is the advance of phenological stages, especially concerning early berry ripening. In the hottest seasons, this results in a lack of synchrony between sugar and phenolic ripeness. In order to cope with this fact, a general effort is being made by researchers and growers aiming at delaying ripening through different strategies. One of the proposed approaches is the application of elicitors. This study aims to assess the effect at the transcriptomic level of the application of three hormone- and natural-based elicitors in Tempranillo. The RNA-seq libraries were sequenced on NovaSeq 6000 Illumina platform (2×150 bp, paired-end). The application of elicitors showed a differential gene expression level with respect to control plants shortly after their application. In terms of the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds, all three elicitors demonstrated an inhibition of tannin-synthesizing genes while promoting anthocyanin synthesis. Changes in sugar accumulation were also observed; all three elicitors caused an underexpression of monosaccharide synthesis related genes. In addition, the application of elicitors overexpressed key enzymes in cell wall reformulation, such as xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases. Conversely, some adverse effects on genes related to aroma and stress response, among others, were found. To sum up, the application of elicitors might be beneficial for the advance of anthocyanin synthesis and sugar accumulation delay.

Warming trends over the winegrowing regions lead to an advance of grapevine phenology, decreased yield and increased sugar content with a lower polyphenol content. We hypothesized that different leaf removal timings may counteract these effects. A two-year experiment was conducted in La Rioja (Spain) with Vitis vinifera L. cv. Grenache trained in an open-vase system. Trial consisted in a complete block design with two leaf removal treatments differing in the moment of manipulation: i) severe leaf removal treatment conducted after fruit set (ELR); and ii) severe leaf removal at veraison (LLR) compared to an untreated control (Control). Both leaf removal treatments tended to decrease sugar content with no effect on yield, these effects being highly affected by the year. Defoliation accounted for a decreased flavanol and stilbene contents in berries at harvest. An ELR increased anthocyanin and phenolic acid contents at harvest, while warming during 2022 accounted for decreased contents of all the monitored groups of flavonols. ELR was only effective for delaying ripening by means of impairing the sugar:anthocyanin decoupling during the 2021 growing season which was related to lower % of kaempferol. Altogether, results suggested that defoliation should still be applied under currently warming trends in some viticulture regions.

Grafting Vitis vinifera L. (wine traditional cultivars) onto North American grapevine species or hybrids is a common practice in viticulture given their tolerance against phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae). However, rootstock genetic background affects the response of grapevines to environmental stresses and their ability for establishing a symbiotic relationship with the microbial communities, and more specifically with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The aim of this study was to evaluate Monastrell variety (clone ENTAV 369) grafted onto three rootstocks (140Ru, 110R and RG8) characterized by a different genetic background, in combination with AMF inoculation (Rhizophagus irregularis) vs. a non-inoculated control with regards to vegetative growth, leaf gas exchange parameters, and mycorrhization. Potted vines were grown in open-top greenhouses and irrigated by counteracting evapotranspiration. The vines were monitored over the season. Plants were homogenized by measuring the trunk section, and at the end of the season, vegetative growth evidenced differences between rootstocks on the scion annual growth. Neither water potential nor gas exchange parameters were significantly affected by the treatments; however, a trend towards increased carbon assimilation rate was observed in inoculated vines. Assayed rootstocks showed different pattern for mycorrhization, with 140Ru being the rootstock that achieved higher values, but no effect was observed on glomalin secretion. To sum up, results showed that the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on vine growth and gas exchange parameters was modulated by the rootstock genotype.

Grapevine pruning is an agronomical operation required to regulate growth and yield, improve fruit quality, and maintain plant health and vigour. However, the intensification of the crop in the last decades, driven by efforts to increase productivity and decrease costs, has led to reduced attention to this operation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different pruning styles during the first years of vineyard training affect grapevine development. Three pruning styles were followed in a newly planted cv. “Tempranillo” vineyard for four consecutive pruning seasons: (i) respectful (RESP), where pruning cuts were always made leaving protection wood between the cut and vine perennial structures, and the preferential sap flow path was chosen; (ii) aggressive (AGGR), where no protection wood was left and, when possible, the nonpreferential sap flow path was followed; and (iii) winegrape grower (WIN), where the common practices used in the area were followed, which corresponds to an intermediate style between RESP and AGGR. In general, the RESP style increased the vegetative development compared to WIN and AGGR styles over the years and produced a higher yield in the first production year, although the intensity of the effect was not the same in the two vineyards considered. This was the first effort to systematically assess the effects of respectful pruning techniques on vine vegetative growth and demonstrate scientifically its impact.

The spatial variability in vineyard soil might negatively affect wine composition, leading to inhomogeneous flavonoid composition and aromatic profiles. In this study, we investigated the spatial variability in wine chemical composition in a Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard in 2019 and 2020. Because of the tight relationships with soil profiles, mid-day stem water potential integrals (Ψstem Int) were used to delineate the vineyard into two zones, including Zone 1 with relatively higher water stress and Zone 2 with relatively lower water stress. Wine from Zone 2 generally had more anthocyanins in 2019. In 2020, Zone 1 had more anthocyanins and flavonols. Zone 2 had more proanthocyanidin extension and terminal subunits as well as total proanthocyanidins in 2020. According to the Principal Component Analyses (PCA) for berry and wine chemical composition, the two zones were significantly different in the studied wine aromatic compounds. In conclusion, this study provides evidence of the possibility of managing the spatial variability of both wine flavonoid composition and aromatic profiles through connecting vineyard soil variability to grapevine season-long water status.

Efficient water management is pivotal for viticulture sustainability. Decision support tools can advise on how to optimize irrigation or on the feasibility of growing grapes in rainfed conditions, but reliable algorithms for assessing vine water status are required. In this context, the aim of the current study was to upgrade a soil water balance model specific for vineyards by incorporating meteorological, soil and vine vigor in equations that transform the fraction of transpirable soil water into midday stem water potential (Estem). The model's sensitivity to variations in the magnitude of input parameters was analyzed. Furthermore, the model was tested in a broad scope of Spanish vineyards with different grapevine cultivars (both red and white), rootstocks, plant age, soil and climatic conditions, and water regimes, totaling 129 scenarios. The model was only slightly sensitive to variations in the magnitude of most inputs, except for the fraction of transpirable water at which leaf stomatal conductance begin to decline. Moreover, the model satisfactorily reproduced the evolution of Estem over the growing season, although it slightly overestimated the measured Estem values, as the slopes of the fitted regression lines were lesser than 1 on most occasions, 76 out of 129. Nonetheless, the coefficients of determination for these relationships were greater than 0.9, except for 21 datasets. Mean errors averaged 0.024 +/- 0.015 MPa, while root mean square errors averaged 0.27 +/- 0.01 MPa. The index of agreement was greater than 0.75 in 51 datasets, with only three datasets showing an index of agreement lower than 0.5. Nevertheless, the deviations between observed and simulated Estem values did not alter the classification of the water stress undergone by grapevines. This upgraded model could constitute the core of a decision support system for water management in vineyards, applicable to both rainfed and irrigated conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of annual or perennial cover crops and tillage regimes on whole grapevine physiology and berry composition. We studied the interactive effects of tillage and cover crops on grapevine water status, leaf gas exchange, components of yield, berry composition and resulting water footprint in two contrasting production regions (Fresno County-hot climate and Napa County-warm climate) of California. The treatments included a perennial grass (PG), resident vegetation (RV), and an annual grass (AG) grown under conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) settings. Neither cover crop nor tillage affected grapevine leaf gas exchange. However, at the Napa County vineyard, NT detrimentally affected grapevine water status compared to CT. Grapevine mineral nutrition, when assessed during anthesis revealed no effects of cover cropping in either year or at either location. Cover crop type did not affect yield components or berry composition, however CT increased titratable acidity (TA) at both sites. The water footprint of vineyards at either location was not affected by cover crops or tillage. Our results provided evidence that both in hot and warm climate vineyards cover cropping had negligible beneficial effects on grapevine physiology, mineral nutrition or productivity with no detrimental effects on vineyard water footprint; tillage was beneficial in younger vineyards to improve plant water status in semi-arid regions.

Achieving more environmentally sustainable vineyards, particularly regarding efficient water use, is paramount in semi-arid grape-growing regions. Rootstocks may be a possible strategy to address these challenges, but require a comprehensive evaluation of their effect on the scion, including ecophysiological traits. The objectives of this study were 1) to characterize the physiological response of Tempranillo cultivar grafted onto five commercial (1103 P, 110 R, 140Ru, 420 A, and SO4), and seven recently bred (RG2, RG3, RG4, RG6, RG7, RG8 and RG9) rootstocks and 2) to elucidate the relationships between agronomic and physiological traits conferred by grapevine rootstocks. This was carried out over three seasons (2018–2020) in a typical Mediterranean vineyard by determining water relations, leaf gas exchange, carbon isotope ratios and vegetative development and yield components. The results highlighted the different behaviour of ‘Tempranillo’ vines due to the rootstock effects on vine water status, photosynthetic performance, hydraulic conductance, vegetative growth and yield parameters. Overall, rootstocks inducing vigour and yield in the scion, such as 140Ru and RG8, showed higher leaf gas exchange rates and hydraulic conductance at the whole-plant level due to less negative water potentials, suggesting a higher water uptake and transport capacity than RG2, RG7 and RG9. The RG rootstocks showed a very wide range of ecophysiological responses, but only RG8 outperformed compared to the most widely used commercial rootstocks. Moreover, this response was modulated by the season and the block soil type, suggesting the importance of rootstock selection according to the edaphoclimatic conditions. Therefore, this study highlights the high potential of rootstocks to adapt to water scarcity by improving crop water productivity in vineyards and provides physiological insights for future studies and breeding programmes.

Introduction:Overhead photoselective shade films installed in vineyards improve berry composition in hot grape-growing regions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the flavonoid and aroma profiles and composition of wines from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) treated with partial solar radiation exclusion.Methods:Experimental design consisted in a randomized experiment with four shade films (D1, D3, D4, D5) with differing solar radiation spectra transmittance and compared to an uncovered control (C0) performed over two seasons (2021 and 2022) in Oakville (CA, USA). Berries were collected by hand at harvest and individual vinifications for each treatment and season were conducted in triplicates. Then, wine chemical composition, flavonoid and aromatic profiles were analyzed.Results:The wines from D4 treatment had greater color intensity and total phenolic index due to co-pigmentation with anthocyanins. Shade film wines D5 and D1 from the 2020 vintage demonstrated increased total anthocyanins in the hotter of the two experimental years. In 2021, reduced cluster temperatures optimized total anthocyanins in D4 wines. Reduced cluster temperatures modulated anthocyanin acylation, methylation and hydroxylation in shade film wines. Volatile aroma composition was analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS) and D4 wines exhibited a more fruity and pleasant aroma profile than C0 wines.Discussion:Results provided evidence that partial solar radiation exclusion in the vineyard using overhead shade films directly improved flavonoid and aroma profiles of resultant wines under hot vintage conditions, providing a tool for combatting air temperatures and warmer growing conditions associated with climate change.

Rootstock election is one of the key decisions when designing a vineyard. Although the research performed to determine the effect they induce in the behaviour of scion varieties is not scarce, it is not easy to have a global idea, as results are usually published scattered. In this work, we re-examine previous research conducted in Spain on rootstock implications on vine agronomic performance through the performance of a meta-analysis (MA). As a result, we were able to integrate the information reported in 20 articles that included rootstock experimentation conducted with 36 different varieties and 47 different rootstocks, totalling 764 individual records. However, when the information was filtered before the meta-analysis, this number decreased to 312 records, for which rootstock Response Ratios (RR) were calculated. The characteristics conferred by the rootstock were more closely related to the rootstock itself, rather than to the characteristics of the Vitis sp. crossing used to create the rootstock. Several rootstocks were identified as more suitable for adapting to future climate change conditions, as far as they were able to moderate sugar accumulation and pH (161-49 C, 41-B MGt and 420A MGt). Meanwhile, 140 Ru and 5-BB were observed to provide high pH and sugar contents despite their high yield. In conclusion, despite being based on data from a single country, the meta-analysis was shown to be a useful tool for enhancing the value of previous research on rootstocks. Combining articles from both peer-reviewed and technical journals helped in the assessment of the implications of different rootstocks, although further steps should be taken to facilitate data integration (harmonisation of measurement and reporting procedures, open data repositories, etc).