title: Influence of a deficit irrigation regime during ripening on berry composition in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in semi-arid areas.
abstract: A study was made of the effects of irrigation management strategies during ripening on the quality of Spanish field-grown grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars (Baladi, Airén, Montepila, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Pedro Ximénez) grown under the "Montilla-Moriles" Appellation of Origin in Cordoba, Spain. From 1999 to 2002, two water-availability regimes were established: irrigation and non-irrigation. The study aimed to ascertain the effect of irrigation on berry development and ripening, and hence on grape juice quality. Changes in phenological stages, vegetative growth, vineyard yield, berry weight, total soluble solids, titrable acidity, pH, tartaric acid, malic acid, and potassium content were monitored. No significant differences were noted in phenological phases between the non-irrigation and deficit irrigation regimes. The Ravaz index, pruning weight, vineyard yield and berry weight were significantly higher in all varieties and years under deficit irrigation. Deficit irrigation induced higher titrable acidity, higher malic acid and potassium contents and a lower pH, but had no significant effects on berry sugar accumulation or tartaric acid content. Deficit irrigation thus appears to be a promising technique for the production of quality young wines in semi-arid areas.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Formación Agraria de Cabra-Priego, Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Junta de Andalucia, Cabra (Córdoba), Spain.
authors.forename: María-Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: María-Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008293:Malates; D014867:Water; C030298:malic acid