Viticulture
5 August 2026
Development of a drought index for vine water management under Mediterranean climate
Climate change is significantly exposing Mediterranean viticulture to growing risks, particularly those associated with the frequency and duration of water deficit episodes. Significant inter-annual and inter-seasonal variability in these ...
10 July 2026
Exploring the microbiota to identify antagonists of grapevine downy mildew
We investigated the microbial communities of vineyard plots that are part of a grapevine disease monitoring network. We show that several species of fungi and bacteria are more abundant in the leaves and soil of vineyard ...
1 July 2026
Bordeaux mixture and copper – changing practices and future challenges
European viticulture at the end of the 19th century was hit by disastrous introductions of American pathogens: powdery mildew in 1845, phylloxera in the 1860s, downy mildew in 1878, and black rot in 1885. ...
16 June 2026
Detection and quantification of grapevine downy mildew oospores in soil using digital PCR
Downy mildew, caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola, is one of the major grapevine diseases. Although oospores in the soil contribute to the initiation and development of epidemics, their abundance and ...
5 June 2026
Interception of copper-based fungicides by cover crops – a way to prevent soil contamination in vineyards?
The use of copper (Cu) fungicides in viticulture has led to the accumulation of Cu in vineyard topsoils, threatening soil health and the sustainability of vineyard ecosystems. This study examines the potential of cover crops ...
4 March 2026
Cryptoblabes gnidiella: a growing challenge for Mediterranean vineyards
The honeydew moth Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Milliére, 1867 (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Phycitinae) is native to the Mediterranean region, but is now ...
27 January 2026
Coping with heatwaves: key points to implement mitigation strategies for berry survival
Extreme heat events have become more frequent and can have a significant impact on agricultural crops, including in viticulture. Since the 1970s, both the duration and frequency of these events have increased, resulting in ...
5 December 2025
Identifying the pedoclimatic conditions most critical in the susceptibility of cultivar Gamaret to Esca disease
To understand the highly variable susceptibility of the Gamaret cultivar to Esca disease, we carried out a four-year ...
4 December 2025
Ethanol, a simple and inexpensive biological product, triggers multiple responses in grapevines
Ethanol, a co-product of the wine industry, could have interesting applications in viticulture. Recent studies show that it could help vines adapt to drought and heat waves. It can also modulate bud break, stimulate ...
31 October 2025
Vine vigor: a factor associated with the expression of grapevine trunk diseases symptoms
The relationship between vine vigor and the expression of grapevine trunk diseases (esca and Botryosphaeria dieback) is poorly documented in the literature. In this study conducted in the Mediterranean region from 2021 to ...
30 October 2025
The spotted lanternfly: a threat to viticulture in Europe
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an insect native to southern China and Taiwan, introduced to other parts of Asia and then to the United States. It feeds on the sap of many plants, including grapevines ...
17 October 2025
Utilize VIS/NIR hyperspectral imaging to detect leafroll and red blotch-infected vines in your vineyard
Grapevines face many threats, with viral diseases like grapevine leafroll and red blotch viruses being particularly challenging due to their elusive nature and lack of cures. Traditional containment methods involve ...
17 October 2025
Increasing grapevine canopy height to compensate for pre-flowering basal leaf removal
Yield loss following intensive pre-flowering leaf removal (LR) can be up to 40-50 % of initial potential. A study conducted by Agroscope on the white grapevine Petite Arvine evaluated the effects of higher hedge trimming to ...
19 September 2025
Sound nitrogen management in viticulture: from observation to must analysis
Understanding and managing grapevine nitrogen nutrition is crucial for producing wines of quality. Visual observation is the first stage, supplemented by tools such as chlorophyl index assessment and leaf analysis. Total ...
2 July 2025
Carryover effects of yield regulation on the following year’s grapes
The integrated management of vine nitrogen nutrition guarantees suitable grape composition at harvest according to the production objective (yield and composition). An agronomic trial revealed the combined effects of ...
22 April 2025
Composting vine leaves to reduce the primary inoculum of Plasmopara viticola in the vineyard?
Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola is one of the most damaging diseases affecting vineyards. The current issues surrounding the use of plant protection products are prompting the ...
7 April 2025
Applications of biochar in viticulture
In the past decade, what is now known as ‘biochar’ has been widely endorsed for a variety of industrial applications and has seen exponential interest in agronomic uses. However, its use remains limited in the viticulture sector, particularly ...
17 February 2025
The intravarietal diversity of sugar concentration in Merlot depends more on late evaporation than sugar loading
The rise in temperature associated with climate change can lead to excessive sugar concentrations at harvest. To maintain varietal typicity in the future, more resilient genotypes need to be identified within clonal ...
17 February 2025
Impact of training system, soil management, and soil water holding capacity on vine water status in the Cognac production area under climate change
With climate change, the risk of water deficits in vineyards is tending to increase, potentially affecting yield and grape quality potential. In this study, the Lebon et al. (2003) soil water balance model was ...
14 February 2025
Characterization of sugar accumulation dynamics in grapes and the factors influencing this process at local scale
Determining the sugar concentration in grape berries is essential for winegrowers, as it enables them to estimate the alcohol content in the final wine and optimize the harvest date. In the face of climate change and rising ...
12 February 2025
Respectful pruning in young vineyards: impact on growth and potential implications
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 ...
12 February 2025
Improving the success rate of dead vine replacement
Dead vine replacement can be a very costly exercise in the event of failure, especially given that replacement vines take longer to reach full production than young plants from a completely replanted plot. Success, ...
31 January 2025
A meta-analysis of the ecological impacts of viticultural practices on soil biodiversity
Soil quality and adequate soil management are key levers for sustainable viticulture. Until now, a global and comprehensive analysis of the impact of viticultural practices on soil biodiversity was lacking. We conducted a ...
22 January 2025
Impact assessment of cover crops on the risk of frost in the Anjou vineyard
The increase in the frequency of spring frosts and the rising precocity of the phenological stages of the vine have been threatening the wine production in the Anjou vineyard for several years (Petitjean et al., 2022). In addition to ...
20 January 2025
Part 1: Is there a correlation between the diameter of the pruning wound and the length of the desiccation cone?
While pruning is an age-old and essential practice for managing yields and keeping vines in production for as long as possible, many questions remain unanswered about its role in vine physiology, particularly with regard to the formation of ...