title: Early leaf removal impact on volatile composition of Tempranillo wines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early defoliation is a very innovative technique in viticulture used for yield management. The effects of early leaf removal performed manually and mechanically at two different phenological stages, pre-bloom and fruit set, on the volatile composition of Tempranillo (Vitis vinifera L.) wines were studied. Volatiles were identified and quantified by gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early leaf removal only modified the total concentrations of C₆ compounds and acetates, whereas total alcohols, esters, volatile acids and terpenes remained generally unaffected. Early defoliation induced a significant reduction in C₆ compounds and increased the concentrations of acetates in Tempranillo wines. An effect of timing (pre-bloom vs fruit set) alone was observed for all acetates analysed. Regarding the method of defoliation (manual vs mechanical), significant differences in some ethyl ester (ethyl-2-methylbutyrate and ethyl octanoate) and volatile acid concentrations were observed among treatments. Ethyl octanoate, 2-phenylethyl acetate, 3-methylbutyl acetate and hexanoic acid, with OAV (odour activity value) > 1 and mainly fruity and floral odour descriptors, showed higher levels after early defoliation treatments compared with non-defoliated vines. Principal component analysis illustrated the difference in wines from defoliated and non-defoliated treatments based on their volatile composition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that early leaf removal significantly modified the wine aroma compounds, increasing or decreasing several of these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Pontevedra, Spain. mvilanova@mbg.cesga.es
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilanova
authors.forename: Maria Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Diago
authors.forename: Zlatina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Genisheva
authors.forename: José Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tardaguila
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005285:Fermentation; D005410:Flame Ionization; D005511:Food Handling; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D009812:Odorants; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds