Search Results (682)

Viticulture is highly vulnerable to weather variability and climate change. Growers increasingly face risks associated with extreme weather events, water scarcity, and emerging pests and diseases. To address these challenges, this study presents the development and implementation of the first operational digital decision support platform (DSP) tailored to Montenegrin vineyards within the MONTEVITIS project. The platform integrates IoT sensor data, national meteorological records and high-resolution global climate datasets to provide real-time monitoring and climate projections for vineyard management. The system was piloted in four vineyards representing diverse microclimatic and soil conditions of Montenegro. Key functionalities include phenology, irrigation and disease alerts supported by a user-friendly dashboard, map-based visualisation tools and data export functions. The pilot deployment demonstrated that combining heterogeneous data streams increases the reliability of outputs and enables timely, site-specific recommendations. Challenges identified during implementation include connectivity limitations, gaps in data and variable levels of digital expertise among growers; however, lessons learned point to the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement and institutional support for sustained use. The MONTEVITIS experience demonstrates how digital agriculture tools can bridge tradition and innovation in viticulture. By fostering collaboration between growers, researchers and policy makers, the platform enables adaptive strategies for climate resilience and sustainable vineyard management. Although the platform has been successfully deployed and tested under pilot conditions, a comprehensive long-term validation of its performance and impact on vineyard decision-making remains part of ongoing future work. Full article

Climate warming in Mediterranean vineyards accelerates grape ripening and increases the incidence of sunburn and berry shriveling, leading to imbalances in grape composition and wine quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of a non-positioned training system (asymmetric sprawl) and foliar application of kaolin particle film on vine microclimate, agronomic performance and wine aroma profile in a Syrah cv. vineyard under warm conditions. Vine canopy temperature was monitored by UAV thermography at veraison and harvest, while grape damage, yield components and vegetative balance were assessed at harvest. Wines obtained from each treatment were analysed for chemical composition, volatile compounds and sensory attributes. Kaolin application significantly reduced canopy temperature, particularly under water-limited conditions at veraison (up to 1.9 °C), and the combination with sprawl training decreased the proportion of sunburnt and shrivelled clusters. These microclimatic modifications were associated with higher ethanol content, improved colour intensity and increased total polyphenol index in wines. The combined strategy also enhanced the concentration of key aroma compounds, especially terpenes and fruity esters, resulting in higher values of citrus, floral and fruity aromatic series. Sensory evaluation confirmed a better overall appreciation of wines produced from vines managed with both practices. Overall, the integration of canopy architecture modification and reflective particle film represents an effective strategy to mitigate heat stress effects in warm viticultural regions, improving grape physiological performance and contributing to the preservation of wine aromatic quality under climate change scenarios. Full article

Radio network planning is critical for 5G deployments, particularly for temporary installations in rural areas where terrain and vegetation significantly impact signal propagation. While empirical path loss (PL) models characterize propagation environments through scenario-specific parameters—leading to inherently noisy predictions at individual sites—machine learning (ML) approaches can predict site-specific path loss from multiple features simultaneously. This study conducts a systematic literature review of rural path loss prediction methods and introduces a novel dataset collected via a 5G nomadic measurement platform in a vineyard environment, capturing real-world propagation characteristics. We present a comprehensive comparison of machine learning and interpretable machine learning techniques, demonstrating that vegetation dynamics (quantified through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) is an important driver of path loss variability when combining data across seasonal campaigns—though not within individual campaigns, where distance dominates. Cross-campaign NDVI transfer, however, is sensitive to satellite resolution, which appears to conflate vine canopy with seasonally managed inter-row ground cover. In cross-campaign transfer, XGBoost proves substantially less susceptible to NDVI-induced degradation than Explainable Boosting Machines (EBM), and a hybrid Log-Normal Shadowing (LNS) and XGBoost model confirms that NDVI captures seasonal variability more effectively than empirical path loss parameters alone. Still, the data captured the expected seasonal trend between April and June 2025, from which our interpretable models derived useful propagation insights. Tree-based models like Random Forest and XGBoost achieved the highest prediction accuracy ($R^2$ up to 0.924 on individual campaigns, 0.891 on combined data, and up to 0.945 (individual) and 0.907 (combined) with antenna pattern-corrected path loss), while explainable boosting machines achieved near-parity ($R^2$ up to 0.919; 0.876 on combined data) with the advantage of interpretability. Among individual campaigns, June—with densest canopy cover—yielded the highest $R^2$ values. These findings provide actionable insights for optimizing temporary 5G networks in precision agriculture and other rural applications. Full article

Winter pruning is a key management practice in viticulture that directly affects vine architecture, yield balance, and grape quality. At the same time, it is a highly labor-intensive operation, and the selective identification of appropriate cutting locations remains one of the main challenges limiting the automation of pruning in vineyards. Advances in machine vision provide new opportunities to support the development of robotic pruning systems. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a vision-based method for estimating grapevine pruning points and cutting lines using instance segmentation outputs generated by YOLO models. A dataset of 1500 RGB images of dormant grapevines was collected under field conditions in the Nobilis vineyard located in southeastern Poland. Two annotation strategies were implemented to define pruning regions. YOLO-based instance segmentation models were trained and evaluated for detecting cutting-related structures. Based on the predicted segmentation masks, a geometry-based method termed PCAcutSeg-V was developed to estimate class-dependent cutting points and cutting lines using principal component analysis applied to object contours. The results indicate that YOLOv8 and YOLO11 architectures achieved the highest segmentation performance among the evaluated models. The simplified annotation strategy provided more stable geometric inputs for the PCAcutSeg-V method, enabling more reliable estimation of cutting points and cutting lines compared with the extended annotation approach. When combined with the PCAcutSeg-V method, the proposed perception–geometry pipeline achieved high effectiveness in pruning decision estimation. The method was further implemented in a real-time processing pipeline using an RGB camera and an edge computing platform, where it maintained performance consistent with the results obtained from offline image analysis. These findings demonstrate that combining deep learning-based instance segmentation with deterministic geometric reasoning enables accurate and interpretable estimation of grapevine pruning locations and provides a promising foundation for future autonomous pruning systems. Full article

The protection of leaves from photoinhibition and berries from dehydration and sunburn has become an increasingly important objective in response to the rising frequency and intensity of heat waves worldwide. This research investigated the effect of a white nonwoven geotextile sheet (TNT) installed in the fruiting zone in the white cultivar ‘Verdicchio’ (Vitis vinifera L.) during critical summer periods with the aim of protecting leaves and berries from extreme heat. The study was conducted over two seasons (2020–2021) in a rainfed vineyard in central Italy using a randomized block design. Physiological and yield parameters were recorded. Vines protected with TNT did not show any changes in net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency, compared to unshielded vines. However, TNT reduced leaf temperature and increased berry total acidity and malic acid concentration while reducing sugar content, leading to wines with higher freshness and reduced alcohol levels. The use of TNTs shows significant potential as a practical tool for viticulturists to mitigate the effects of excessive heat, allowing for better management of berry ripening and ultimately improving final wine characteristics. Additionally, TNT is economically feasible, especially if applied only to the afternoon-exposed side of the canopy, and its cost can be amortized, especially in vineyards affected by frequent heat waves and/or dedicated to the production of premium wines. Full article

Fruit anthocyanins are primary determinants of color, sensory quality, and nutritional value in grapes; however, their endogenous biosynthesis is governed by complex interactions among genetic, environmental, agronomic, and postharvest factors. This review elaborates recent advances in physiology and molecular biology to clarify the biosynthetic mechanisms in grapes, including the coordinated action of structural enzymes, MYB–bHLH–WD40 regulatory complexes, hormone-mediated signaling pathways, and vacuolar transport processes. Key environmental factors, such as temperature fluctuations, light exposure, water availability, and soil properties, regulate these networks, contributing to significant variation in pigmentation profiles across cultivars and growing regions. Strategic agronomic practices, including canopy management, regulated deficit irrigation, balanced nutrient management, and temperature-mitigation techniques, further influence pigmentation by modifying the microclimate of the fruit zone during development. Based on these mechanistic insights, this review evaluates targeted strategies for enhancing anthocyanin accumulation, highlighting recent progress in genetic improvement through CRISPR/Cas genome editing, transgenic approaches, and marker-assisted selection (MAS), which enable precise modulation of biosynthetic and regulatory genes. Complementary postharvest interventions, such as optimized cold storage, modified-atmosphere packaging, hormonal elicitors, and controlled oxidative technologies, provide additional opportunities to maintain or enhance pigment stability after harvest. Collectively, these advances establish a comprehensive framework linking molecular regulation with practical vineyard, breeding, and postharvest strategies, offering an integrated pathway to improve anthocyanin consistency, berry quality, and the phenolic characteristics of grape-derived products. Full article

To improve nitrogen (N) fertilizer management in vineyards and support sustainable production, we conducted field experiments in 2021–2022 to evaluate the effects of reduced N fertilization combined with organic fertilizer (OF) on vine growth, fruit quality, soil fertility, and economic returns in Shine Muscat grapes. Six treatments were established: conventional fertilization (CF), four reduced-N treatments combined with OF (0.9N + OF to 0.6N + OF; i.e., 10–40% N reduction), and a blank control (CK). Yield was significantly increased under 0.8N + OF (18.2% in 2021; 96.0% in 2022) and 0.7N + OF (10.8% in 2021; 47.9% in 2022), with 0.8N + OF also delivering the highest economic returns. Fruit quality analysis showed that 0.8N + OF consistently increased total sugar and the sugar–acid ratio, and improved vitamin C content. Substitution ratios >40% led to a decline in economic benefits. Path analysis indicated that vertical diameter and single-berry weight exerted significant positive effects on total yield. OF substitution also improved fruit quality. Soil available nutrients (N, P, and K) and organic matter were primary factors influencing yield; potassium was the key factor regulating sugar accumulation, with the strongest effect on improving flavor coordination. Reducing N by 20–30% combined with OF (particularly the 0.8N + OF treatment) synergistically enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, N utilization, yield and quality, and soil fertility, representing the optimal fertilization strategy. Full article

Sustainable land stewardship is increasingly essential in South Africa’s wine-producing regions (WPR), where climate variability, ecological sensitivity, and economic pressures interact to shape vineyard management practices. This study synthesizes data from 107 vineyard websites and 20 in-depth stakeholder interviews to examine how sustainability is conceptualized and practiced across the region. Results show that growers prioritize biodiversity conservation, soil health, and water-efficient management as foundational to long-term resilience, with widespread adoption of practices such as mulching, cover cropping, habitat restoration, and integrated pest management. Website-derived data reveal substantial participation in sustainability certifications, including the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) program and WWF Conservation Champions, although implementation depth varies among producers. Interviews underscore that climate extremes—particularly drought—have intensified reliance on soil-moisture conservation and adaptive irrigation strategies. Producers also identified escalating input costs, shifting markets, and export barriers as central economic challenges, contributing to diversified business models that include tourism and direct-to-consumer sales. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sustainable viticulture in South Africa’s WPR is shaped by dynamic interactions between environmental stewardship and economic adaptation. Strengthening collaboration and aligning local practices with global sustainability frameworks can enhance the region’s ecological resilience and support the long-term viability of its wine industry. Full article

Over two years, a randomized complete block field trial tested deficit irrigation [I: 70% ETc; NI] and ammonium nitrate [N₀, N₆₀, N₁₂₀; 0, 60, 120 kg N ha⁻¹] application in two northern Greece winegrape vineyards of cv. ‘Xinomavro’ (XM) and cv. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (CS). Leaf-blade δ¹⁵N was measured at berry set, bunch closure, veraison, and technological maturity; berry-juice (must) δ¹⁵N at technological maturity and dormant cane δ¹⁵N in winter were also determined. In the first year, δ¹⁵N was additionally measured in petioles, unripe berries, trunks, and roots, along with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of fine roots. Fertilization increased δ¹⁵N in leaf blades and canes, whereas berry-juice δ¹⁵N responded weakly and inconsistently. Irrigation marginally lowered cane δ¹⁵N; cane δ¹⁵N varied between years, and berry-juice δ¹⁵N showed the highest variability across treatments. At berry set, intravine discrimination was evident: young berries and leaf blades were enriched, while fine roots and woody tissues were depleted. Root δ¹⁵N responses differed between cultivars and depended on AMF colonization in XM. Leaf and cane δ¹⁵N were positively related to vine N status, yield, and pruning weight but negatively to agronomic N-use efficiency indices. These findings indicate that δ¹⁵N serves as an integrative proxy of N cycling processes and fertilizer-use efficiency in vineyards, with potential implications for the assessment and optimization of sustainable vineyard management practices in the context of climate change. Full article

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are one of the prevalent pests infesting wine grapes in the eastern United States. Their close association with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) provides them with protection against natural enemies. Although sugar-based dispensers have been proposed as a strategy to disrupt this trophobiotic interaction, their field performance and indirect effects on mealybug infestation remain poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by identifying mealybug species present in Virginia vineyards, characterizing dominant ant genera associated with mealybugs, and evaluating the impact of sugar dispensers (with and without insecticide) on ant activity, mealybug density, and fruit cluster infestation. Field trials were conducted in two commercial vineyards in Virginia, USA, both with a history of mealybug infestations. Sampling plots with or without sugar dispensers were compared to assess differences in mealybug and ant population densities and fruit cluster infestation levels. Two mealybug species, Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) and Ferrisia gilli Gullan, were detected at both sites. Some dominant ant genera, including Tetramorium Mayr, Lasius Fabricius, Solenopsis molesta (Say), Crematogaster Lund, and Pheidole Westwood, were found in close association with mealybugs. Ant activity remained low in untreated plots, whereas insecticide-treated dispensers initially attracted high ant numbers, which declined over time. Fruit cluster infestation was highest in plots lacking dispensers, indicating that dispenser deployment reduced mealybug impact. These findings demonstrate that sugar dispensers, particularly those containing insecticide, can suppress ant activity and reduce mealybug-related fruit damage, offering a practical non-disruptive tool for integrated pest management in small- and medium-sized vineyards. Full article

In the present study, we conducted three treatments with different cadmium concentrations and three different soil types selected for grape cultivation to assess the accumulation and migration characteristics of Cadmium (Cd) in the soil–grape system in different years. The change in Cd fractions in soil and the transfer and accumulation of Cd in different soil–grape systems were analyzed to evaluate the health risks of pulp cadmium accumulation to grape consumers. The results showed that after the planting of the grape, the active Cd fraction increased by 1~3 times and the stable fraction decreased by 1~3 times compared to before planting grapes. It gradually began to stabilize as the cultivation period progressed. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of Cd in different parts of grape was ranked as: root (0.094~2.590) > stem (0.117~2.112) > leaf (0.008~0.621) > seed (0.010~0.195) > skin (0.000~0.148) > pulp (0.000~0.156). High Cd concentration inhibited the transfer of Cd from the soil and root to the aboveground part of the grape. The Cd of grape pulp has no health risks. Cd pollution significantly altered the soil microbial community, suppressing Actinobacteria while enriching Acidobacteria. The results of this study will help to clarify migration patterns between different soil–grape systems and providing effective data and theoretical support for the management of Cd pollution in vineyard soils. Full article

Soil compaction and reduced infiltration capacity are critical constraints limiting soil physical quality and hydraulic functioning in semi-arid vineyard systems subjected to repeated machinery traffic. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a geometry-optimized strip tillage tool designed to improve structural functionality within the compacted root zone while minimizing inter-row disturbance. A U-shaped working body configuration, consisting of two oppositely inclined shanks and a central chisel, was theoretically substantiated and optimized using multifactor analysis. Field experiments were conducted to assess changes in penetration resistance, bulk density, and infiltration rate within the 20–40 cm soil layer under semi-arid conditions. The optimized geometry significantly reduced penetration resistance and bulk density in the trafficked strip, indicating alleviation of mechanical impedance and improved root-relevant physical conditions. Infiltration capacity increased after treatment, indicating enhanced hydraulic continuity within the root zone. Unlike full-width subsoiling, the localized strip intervention preserved inter-row soil stability and limited unnecessary disturbance, which is consistent with conservation-oriented soil management. The results indicate that geometry-optimized strip tillage is associated with improved soil physical quality and hydraulic function within compacted vineyard strips. The operational applicability of the developed implement may also depend on vineyard layout and terrain conditions. The prototype tool was tested under conditions representative of vineyards with standard row spacing and relatively moderate slopes typical for the experimental site. In vineyards with very narrow row spacing, steep slopes, or highly heterogeneous soil conditions, adjustments in working width, shank spacing, or tractor–implement configuration may be required. Future studies should therefore investigate the performance of the optimized geometry under contrasting vineyard configurations, including steep hillside vineyards and high-density planting systems. By linking implement design to quantitative soil structural and hydraulic indicators, this study contributes to the development of vineyard soil management practices for semi-arid perennial cropping systems. Full article

Traditional soil management in vineyards and olive groves of semi-arid regions relies on repeated tillage, which accelerates soil organic matter (SOM) oxidation and limits long-term carbon storage. In the context of carbon-neutral agricultural strategies, understanding how alternative practices influence SOM stocks, redistribution, and stabilization is essential. We sampled six paired sites in central Spain (three vineyards and three olive groves), each comprising adjacent plots under conventional tillage or continuous cover cropping, at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths. We analyzed water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), optical properties of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM; specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄) and the absorbance ratio E4/E6), β-glucosidase activity, and the SOC/clay ratio as a proxy for mineral-associated SOC stabilization. Depth was the main factor structuring SOC and biological activity, with higher values in the topsoil. Management effects on bulk SOC were limited although cover cropping increased aboveground biomass and influenced WEOC dynamics. Vertical contrasts (30–10 cm) showed a positive association between WEOC and SOC/clay, suggesting that increased WEOC at depth co-varies with stabilization potential. Partial least squares analysis for 10–30 cm showed that SOC/clay was associated with WEOC, E4/E6, and β-glucosidase activity. These results suggest that subsoil carbon stabilization in semi-arid conditions may be linked to DOC availability and microbial processing rather than directly to surface biomass inputs. Full article

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery has become an important tool for erosion monitoring, but little is known about its application in Mediterranean agricultural systems such as vineyards and olive groves. In this study, drone flights were conducted in vineyards and olive groves where mulch and biochar treatments had been applied. Digital terrain models (DTMs) and orthomosaics were constructed using a photogrammetry workflow, and model error was determined via global positioning system (GPS) transects. Erosion was assessed using Digital elevation models of Difference (DoD) and compared with field-based erosion plot measurements. Explanatory variables for erosion (soil roughness, slope length, steepness, vegetation cover) were derived from DTMs and orthomosaics and were evaluated in a multiple linear regression model. Although direct measurement of erosion from the DoDs was difficult, this was primarily influenced by the unexpectedly low erosion rates during the study period, and the high root mean square error (RMSE) of the DTMs. Significant differences in DTM-derived variables were found between study areas, and especially between areas with organic and integrated management, even though treatments showed similar patterns. The multiple linear regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for a large part of the variation in measured erosion using the UAV-derived variables (R² = 0.81). Slope and slope length were the most important predictors of erosion together with the interaction between these two variables. The results suggest that soil erosion in the study areas was mostly determined by topographic and management factors, rather than the applied treatments. This study highlights the value of UAV imagery in advancing the understanding of erosion processes in Mediterranean agricultural systems, while also identifying the challenge of accurately measuring erosion from DoDs under conditions of low erosion rates. Full article

Viticulture is a notable economic activity in the Mediterranean basin, and the inter-row area is managed through tillage, which has several disadvantages and can lead to soil erosion. Also, there has been an increased trend in utilizing cover crops in vineyards, as they provide several ecosystem services. The objective of our experiment was to study the growth and yield of monocrops of triticale, barley and pea, and their intercrops when they were grown in a Mediterranean vineyard. The results show that pea–triticale and pea–barley intercropping systems exhibited higher or earlier peaks in leaf area index (up to 180%) than monocultures, indicating complementary canopy structures that improved light interception. Intercrops consistently produced higher biomass, with triticale–pea yielding up to 11.63 t ha⁻¹, though grain yield was more variable and sensitive to environmental stresses during reproductive stages. The indices that were determined showed the significant advantage of the intercrops compared to the monocrops. Also, intercrops showed higher environmental resource use efficiency, as measured with Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) and Water Use Efficiency (WUE), compared to the monocrops. The present study demonstrates that cereal–legume intercropping in vineyards can increase biomass, grain production, and environmental resource use efficiency and can be used for sustainable intensification in Mediterranean cropping systems. Full article