How does the foliar application of vineshoot extract onto grapevine affect white must composition? Sourced from the research article “Effect of vine-shoot and oak extract foliar grapevine applications on oenological parameters, phenolic acids and glutathione content of white musts and wines” (OENO One, 2020). Original language of the article: English.
Nowadays, agronomic practices are evolving towards a “Sustainable Agriculture” using environmentally friendly systems. Modern viticulture aims to reduce inputs without reducing grape yield and wine quality. As a result of pruning, vine-shoots are generated as the waste of the vineyard. However their aqueous extracts have shown to have significant contents of bioactive compounds and, therefore, biostimulant activity. The foliar applications of vine-shoot extracts onto white grapevine variety caused a reduction in the sugar content, further an effect on the grape reaction product (trans-GRP) content was observed.
Study context
The wine industry is actively looking for new ways to reuse waste and turn it into by-products with high added value in order to be more competitive, innovative and sustainable.
In the vineyard, the most important waste products are pruned vine-shoots
Colour is considered to be one of the most important properties of must and wines coming from white varieties, the oxidation process of such wines being well-known. Glutathione, a naturally occurring antioxidant, is a tripeptide formed by three amino acids (cysteine, glutamate and glycine) present in grape, must and wine. It has the ability to regenerate the o-diphenol group of enzymatically oxidized trans-caftaric acid, giving rise to 2-S-glutathionyl-trans-caftaric acid (also known as grape reaction product, GRP), which inhibits the browning of wine. The amount of GRP present in a wine provides information about its oxidation history throughout its production and aging.
Trials
The aim was to study how foliar application in the vineyard of aqueous extracts from vine-shoots directly affects white grape composition. In order to do this, must composition was studied for ºBaumé, glutathione and trans-GRP content during two consecutive vintages (2013 and 2014). The study took different variables into account: pruned vine-shoot variety (Airén and Moscatel), pruned vine-shoot toasting effect (non-toasted and toasted) and extract formulation effect (applied once or twice). The prepared
. AVS: Airén aqueous extract from non-toasted pruned vine-shoots: from 2013 (AVS2013) and 2014 (AVS2014).
. AVSToasted: Airén aqueous extract from toasted pruned vine-shoots.
. MVS2014: Moscatel aqueous extract from non-toasted pruned vine-shoots.
. MVSToasted: Moscatel aqueous extract from toasted pruned vine-shoots.
In previous applications, a superficial wetting agent typically used for foliar treatments was added at a dose of 0.05 % (v/v). Treatments (Figure 1) were sprayed on the leaves
In 2013, the formulation effect of pruned vine-shoot extracts was tested: the AVS2013 extract was applied once on day 7 post-veraison (AVS2013-100), and the second application was carried out with AVS2013 diluted with water at 50 %, which was applied twice on days 7 and 14 post-veraison (AVS2013-50). In 2014, the vine-shoot variety and toasted procedure effects were tested. All treatments (AVS2014, AVSToasted, MVS2014 and MVSToasted) were applied once (on day 7 post-veraison). Moreover, plants treated with water were selected each year for the Control.
Figure 1. Aqueous extracts tested in the study with different aims.

Effects on must sugar content and on wine alcohol strength
The sugar content (measured as °Baumé) of the must from the treated vines, was lower than the Control ones in both seasons (Figure 2). Although vintage variability was observed, the foliar applications seemed to have clearly affected sugar accumulation in the berries. Additionally, while the wood toasting procedure (studied in the 2014 season) did not seem to follow any pattern, the formulation effect (studied in the 2013 season) showed an influence on the °Baumé content; the same dose was given, but when diluted and applied twice it seemed to have a greater effect on the accumulation of sugars. The phenomenon of the decrease in sugar content was observed in musts (probable alcohol) and in the wines they produced (alcohol content).
Figure 2. ºBaumé of musts after vines treated with different vine-shoots extracts: a) 2013 vintage; b) 2014 vintage. Small letters indicate significant differences for musts in 2013 vintage and capital letters for musts in 2014 vintage according to the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

All grapes in both vintages and from all treatments were harvested considering the optimum maturation time of the Control sample. Therefore, the delay in grape ripening could be due to the application of the vegetal extracts; the extracts may have caused a stress on the grapevine, further decreasing the photosynthesis process. Hence, the sugar content of the treated berries decreased
Effects on glutathione and trans-GRP content of musts
During the 2013 and 2014 vintages, the treatment of Airén vine-shoot extract (AVS and AVSToasted) did not affect the glutathione concentration in the must from the Control vines. In relation to the Moscatel vine-shoot extracts (MVS and MVSToasted), the glutathione concentration in must decreased compared to the Control samples
With regards to the trans-GRP content, must from vines treated with the different vine-shoot aqueous extracts showed a significantly higher content compared to the Control ones, except for those from the AVSToasted (Figure 3). This means that the must had a greater amount of glutathione adducts and orthodiphenol compounds, which are not polyphenoloxidase substrates, hence reducing the well-known browning problem in white wines. After alcoholic fermentation, trans-GRP concentration decreased, but to a lesser extent than the glutathione. In wines, the vintage effect was higher than the vine-shoot extract, since the differences were maintained in the 2013 vintage, but not in 2014
Figure 3. Grape reaction product (trans-GRP) content (mg/L) in musts after different vine-shoot extract applications: a) 2013 vintage; b) 2014 vintage. Small letters indicate significant differences for musts from the 2013 vintage and capital letters for musts from the 2014 vintage according to the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Final remarks
The foliar applications of pruned vine-shoots on Airén grapevines clearly reduced the sugar content in grapes, but no effect was observed for glutathione content. Moreover, higher values for trans-GRP formation were recorded in must from treated vines in both studied vintages.
Significance and impact of the study
These findings are important in relation to making the most of vineyard waste, as well as improving the quality of white must as a result of effects on oxidation processes, by using alternative more sustainable and intrinsic products from the vineyard.
The translation of this article into English was offered to you by Moët Hennessy.
NOTES
- Mendívil M.A., Muñoz, P., Morales, M.P., Juarez, M.C. & García-Escudero, E. (2013). Chemical characterization of pruned vine shoots from la Rioja (Spain) for obtaining solid bio-fuels. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 5, 033113.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas M. R. (2014). Vine-shoot waste aqueous extracts for re-use in agriculture obtained by different extraction techniques: Phenolic, volatile, and mineral compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62, 10861–10872.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Pardo, F., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas, M. R. (2016). An innovative use of vine-shoots residues and their “feedback” effect on wine quality. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 37, 18–26.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Pardo, F., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas, M. R. (2017). Moscatel vine-shoot extracts as a grapevine biostimulant to enhance wine quality. Food Research International, 98, 40–49.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas M. R. (2014). Vine-shoot waste aqueous extracts for re-use in agriculture obtained by different extraction techniques: Phenolic, volatile, and mineral compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62, 10861–10872.
- Pardo-García, A.I., De La Hoz, K.S., Zalacain, A., Alonso, G.L., Salinas, M.R. (2014). Effect of vine foliar treatments on the varietal aroma of Monastrell wines. Food Chemistry, 163, 258–266.
- Conde, C., Silva, P., Fontes, N., Dias, A. C. P., Tavares, R. M., Sausa, M. J., Agasse, A., Deltrot, S., & Gerós, H. (2007). Biochemical changes throughout grape berry development and fruit and wine quality. Food, 1, 1–22.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Pérez-Álvarez, E. P., Salinas, M. R., Gonzalo-Diago, A., Zalacain, A., & Garde-Cerdán, T. (2020). Effect of vine-shoot and oak extract foliar grapevine applications on the oenological parameters, phenolic acids and glutathione content of white musts and wines. OENO One, 54, 145–156.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Pérez-Álvarez, E. P., Salinas, M. R., Gonzalo-Diago, A., Zalacain, A., & Garde-Cerdán, T. (2020). Effect of vine-shoot and oak extract foliar grapevine applications on the oenological parameters, phenolic acids and glutathione content of white musts and wines. OENO One, 54, 145–156.
References
- Mendívil M.A., Muñoz, P., Morales, M.P., Juarez, M.C. & García-Escudero, E. (2013). Chemical characterization of pruned vine shoots from la Rioja (Spain) for obtaining solid bio-fuels. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 5, 033113.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas M. R. (2014). Vine-shoot waste aqueous extracts for re-use in agriculture obtained by different extraction techniques: Phenolic, volatile, and mineral compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62, 10861–10872.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Pardo, F., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas, M. R. (2016). An innovative use of vine-shoots residues and their “feedback” effect on wine quality. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 37, 18–26.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Zalacain, A., Pardo, F., Alonso, G. L., & Salinas, M. R. (2017). Moscatel vine-shoot extracts as a grapevine biostimulant to enhance wine quality. Food Research International, 98, 40–49.
- Pardo-García, A.I., De La Hoz, K.S., Zalacain, A., Alonso, G.L., Salinas, M.R. (2014). Effect of vine foliar treatments on the varietal aroma of Monastrell wines. Food Chemistry, 163, 258–266.
- Conde, C., Silva, P., Fontes, N., Dias, A. C. P., Tavares, R. M., Sausa, M. J., Agasse, A., Deltrot, S., & Gerós, H. (2007). Biochemical changes throughout grape berry development and fruit and wine quality. Food, 1, 1–22.
- Sánchez-Gómez, R., Pérez-Álvarez, E. P., Salinas, M. R., Gonzalo-Diago, A., Zalacain, A., & Garde-Cerdán, T. (2020). Effect of vine-shoot and oak extract foliar grapevine applications on the oenological parameters, phenolic acids and glutathione content of white musts and wines. OENO One, 54, 145–156.
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