Bud Fruitfulness in Grapes: Metabolism Response to Environmental Conditions

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 6826

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Interests: viticulture and grape disease control; grape stress physiology and quality control; vineyard soil management
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The influence of environmental factors on viticulture has been recognized for centuries through the concept of terroir, which links climate, soil, and topography to fruit and wine quality. The advent of climate change in recent decades has intensified research, as rising temperatures and altered weather patterns are having an impact on grape phenology and quality.

This Special Issue covers a diverse array of topics, including the influence of environment on grape physiology and fruit metabolite profiles, terroir, adaptive agricultural practices to mitigate environmental stress, long-term climate change impacts on grape phenology and fruit typicity, and sustainable practices to ensure high-quality production. Cutting-edge research in this field focuses on climate change and adaptation strategies, microbial communities in response to grape physiology under stress, and fruit metabolic responses to environmental change.

We welcome the submissions of original research papers and review articles to further understand how environmental factors (climate, soil, light, etc.) impact grapevine growth, metabolism, and fruit quality, and to develop sustainable practices to enhance vineyard resilience in a changing climate.

Dr. Xuefei Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • viticulture practices
  • plant physiology
  • grape metabolites, stress biology
  • environmental change
  • terroir

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 778 KB  
Article
Water Stress Effects on Free and Bound Volatile Compounds in Macabeo and Chardonnay Grapes Analyzed Through GC×GC/ToFMS
by Cristina Cebrián-Tarancón, Nuno Martins, Daniela Fonseca, Maria João Cabrita, M. Rosario Salinas, Gonzalo L. Alonso and Rosario Sánchez-Gómez
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080802 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Climate change and variable rainfall are pushing the wine industry to assess grapevine adaptability, as water deficit alters volatile compounds and understanding these processes is key to maintaining wine quality. A total of 64 compounds, free and glycosidically bound fractions, were analyzed using [...] Read more.
Climate change and variable rainfall are pushing the wine industry to assess grapevine adaptability, as water deficit alters volatile compounds and understanding these processes is key to maintaining wine quality. A total of 64 compounds, free and glycosidically bound fractions, were analyzed using HS-SPME-GC×GC/ToFMS in Macabeo and Chardonnay grapes under two water irrigation regimes. Results showed that water availability significantly influenced aroma composition. Macabeo showed a strong response to rainfed conditions, with higher levels of monoterpenes, norisoprenoids and sesquiterpenes, mainly in the bound fraction, suggesting a metabolic adaptation to preserve aromatic potential. Chardonnay showed a more stable bound fraction and moderate changes in specific volatiles. These findings indicate that this advanced chromatographic technique allows a detailed evaluation of aroma precursors and their modulation by water availability. Full article
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17 pages, 6532 KB  
Article
Spring Frost Stress Resistance Under the Effects of Different Rootstock–Scion Grafting Combinations and Own-Rooted Vines
by Chaowei Huang, Hongda Lu, Wanqing Zhang, Yuting Wang, Harley Smith, Xianhang Wang, Xuefei Wang and Zhumei Xi
Agronomy 2026, 16(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16010090 - 29 Dec 2025
Viewed by 778
Abstract
Spring frost poses a major threat to grape-producing regions, severely reducing grape yield and quality. Grafting rootstocks is an effective strategy for enhancing scion resistance to spring frost and mitigating damage. In this study, the two wine grape cultivars (‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Chardonnay’) [...] Read more.
Spring frost poses a major threat to grape-producing regions, severely reducing grape yield and quality. Grafting rootstocks is an effective strategy for enhancing scion resistance to spring frost and mitigating damage. In this study, the two wine grape cultivars (‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Chardonnay’) grafted onto three rootstocks (‘Beta’, ‘Kober 5BB’, and ‘3309 Couderc’) were evaluated for their spring frost resistance on one-year-old vines. The scion–rootstock combinations exhibited significantly less photosynthetic impairment under frost stress compared with own-rooted vines. Rootstock also showed lower levels of proline accumulation in the roots and APX activities in the leaves under frost conditions. Compared with own-rooted vines, VvCBF1 gene expression were significantly upregulated in the grafted combinations under frost stress conditions. Among the tested rootstocks, ‘Kober 5BB’ markedly improved the spring frost resistance of both cultivars. CH/5BB exhibited the highest activities of POD and APX activity and the greatest induction of VvCBF genes, along with the lowest relative electrical conductivity and H2O2 content. These results highlight the critical role of rootstocks in improving scion spring frost resistance and provide important guidance for selecting suitable rootstocks to mitigate the impact of late frosts. Full article
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21 pages, 2548 KB  
Article
Heat Stress Tolerance and Photosynthetic Responses to Transient Light Intensities of Greek Grapevine Cultivars
by Xenophon Venios, Georgios Banilas, Evangelos Beris, Katerina Biniari and Elias Korkas
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2344; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102344 - 5 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4905
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of rising temperatures on photosynthetic efficiency and stress tolerance in major Greek grapevine cultivars by using Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot as references. Muscat and Assyrtiko displayed the most heat-tolerant photosynthetic apparatus among the white cultivars, while Mavrodafni was [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of rising temperatures on photosynthetic efficiency and stress tolerance in major Greek grapevine cultivars by using Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot as references. Muscat and Assyrtiko displayed the most heat-tolerant photosynthetic apparatus among the white cultivars, while Mavrodafni was the most heat-tolerant among the red ones, by effectively managing excess light energy. Sauvignon Blanc, although exhibiting heat susceptibility, maintained high photosystem II (PSII) functionality under heat stress by activating photoprotective mechanisms. Savvatiano and Agiorgitiko were more vulnerable to photo-oxidative stress above 35 °C, while Agiorgitiko maintained a functional photosynthetic apparatus, even at 40 °C, by shifting to a more photoprotective strategy. In contrast, Merlot, despite its resistance to photo-oxidative stress, lacked photoprotective investment, resulting in suppressed PSII under heat stress. Moschofilero was the most susceptible cultivar to photo-oxidative stress. Leaf morphological traits also contributed to heat stress tolerance, with smaller, thicker leaves facilitating thermoregulation. The present results provide important insights into specific responses to heat stress of major Greek grapevine cultivars. This knowledge may aid in selecting heat-tolerant genotypes and optimizing vineyard site selection, thereby enhancing the sustainability and climate resilience of viticulture. Full article
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