Present and attend the 17th International Giesco Symposium and academic tour of universities, vineyards and wineries in Northern Italy
Abstract
Attendance at the symposium provided an ideal opportunity for the author to make and renew contacts that will facilitate future collaboration in viticultural research and education. The key information gained from the symposium includes:
- For viticulture to be sustainable an integrated approach should be taken and include the environment, fauna, flora, social aspects and the economy.
- Crop load is important in the regulation of flavour development during ripening. When crop loads are managed appropriately there is potential to obtain optimum flavours at lower sugar levels.
- The use of anti-transpirants in Australia could be a useful management technique for reducing alcohol levels in wine made from warm-hot regions.
- The Mutiplex fluorimetric sensor technology is rapid and non-invasive and has potential to provide support for harvest date and selective harvesting decisions.
- It was found that C/N ratio, microbial biomass carbon/total carbon and basal respiration/total organic carbon can be used to assess vineyard soil quality as they were able to discriminate between different soil management practices.
- The use of Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy to measure carbohydrate and nitrogen levels could aid grape growers who are interested in the prediction of yield and canopy growth potential from season to season and the knowledge of overwintering reserves.
- More research is needed to better understand the role that adaptation (eco-physiological) mechanisms play in the links between climate and quality.
RGB image analysis is a simple, rapid and practical method and has potential applications in yield, plant health and management practice assessment.
Summary
Dr Cassandra Collins presented a paper entitled "Grapevine reproductive performance in a hotter climate" at the 17th International GiESCO Symposium, Asti Italy.