D1C01 The Vine Flashcards

1.1.1 Describe the anatomy of the vine. 1.1.2 Explain how the components of the grape develop through the ripening process.

1
Q

What is Vitis Vinifera?

A

V. Vinifera is a vine species, to which belong the majority of known grape varieties. It’s indigenous to Eurasia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name 4 North American vine species?

A
  1. V. Labrusca
  2. V. Riparia (Coast vine)
  3. V. Berlandieri (Lime vine)
  4. V. Rupestris (Rock vine)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the function of North American vine species?

A

Rootstocks onto which V. vinifera is grafted.

Also used in wine production in some regions (e.g. New York State).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the 4 sections of the vine’s structure

A
  1. main shoots
  2. one-year-old wood
  3. permanent wood
  4. the roots
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define the canopy

A

The main shoots and all of their major structures – stem, buds, leaves, lateral shoots, tendrils and inflorescences/grape bunches are collectively called the canopy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe the major structures of main shoots

A
  1. stem
  2. buds
  3. leaves
  4. lateral shoots
  5. tendrils
  6. inflorescences/grape bunches.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the stem?

A

The stem is essentially the structure to which all the other structures are attached.

It transports water and solutes to and from the different structures.

The stem is also a store of carbohydrates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are canes?

A

In late summer, the leaves fall from the vine and the green shoots lignify (become woody and rigid) and turn brown; from this point they are called canes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where do buds form and what do they become?

A

Form between leaf stalk (petiole) and stem – with maturation, become green parts of vine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What structures do buds contain as they mature?

A

Buds contain all the structures in miniature that will become green parts of the vine, including the stem, buds, tendrils, leaves and often inflorescences.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are main types of buds?

A
  1. Compound buds (also called latent buds)
  2. Prompt buds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When are compound buds formed and break open?

A

Compound buds (also called latent buds) form in one growing season and break open in the next growing season (provided they are retained during winter pruning).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the function of compound buds?

A

Compound buds produce the main shoots in the next growing season.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the structure of compound buds?

A

Compound buds have a primary bud (the main growing point) and smaller secondary and tertiary buds.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of secondary and tertiary buds?

A

The secondary and tertiary buds serve as additional growing points. They usually only grow if damage has occurred to the primary bud (e.g. spring frost).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

When are prompt buds formed and break open?

A

Prompt buds form and break open in the same growing season.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where are prompt buds formed and what do they form?

A

They form on the main shoot (that has just grown from a compound bud) and produce lateral shoots.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are lateral shoots?

A

Grow from prompt buds.

Lateral shoots are smaller and thinner than the main shoots. Lateral shoots have a stem, leaves, buds, tendrils and sometimes inflorescences.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where do lateral shoots grow from?

A

Lateral shoots grow from buds formed in the current year (prompt buds).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the function of lateral shoots?

A

Their main function is to allow the plant to carry on growing if the tip of the main shoot has been damaged or eaten.

Lateral shoots can provide an additional source of leaves for photosynthesis, which can be useful if the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots and able to benefit from sunlight.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

The process by which green plants use sunlight to produce sugars from carbon dioxide and water:

CO2 + 2 H2O + photons → CH2O + O2 + H2O

(CH2O being carbohydrates, e.g. sugar)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Explain why growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot is undesirable?

A

As laterals impede air flow and can shade the fruit too much. They may be removed in summer pruning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define ‘second crop’.

A

Lateral shoots often produce inflorescences, which can be known as a ‘second crop’. These inflorescences become bunches of grapes later than those on the main stem and hence ripen later.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Explain the difference between the bunches of the main crop and the second crop, if harvested at the same time.

A

If harvested at the same time as the main crop, the bunches in the second crop will be higher in acidity, lower in potential alcohol and may have unripe tannins and aromas/flavours and, in black grapes, less colour development.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is green harvesting and explain why it may be desirable?

A

Green harvesting is the removal of the second crop during the growing season.

This technique is thought to enhance the ripening process and improve the uniformity of ripeness of the remaining bunches.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Would you advise green harvesting when hand harvesting?

A

If fruit is hand-harvested, the ability to be selective means the second crop need not be picked or can be separated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Explain the effects of the second crop when machine harvesting?

A

A vine grower can not avoid picking up green crop, and therefore it may have an impact on the must and finished wine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are tendrils?

A

The shoot cannot support itself, therefore vines have tendrils. Tendrils attach the vine to other plants or trees, providing support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are the functions of tendrils in viticulture?

A

In viticulture, grape growers can use a trellis to position the vine canopy. The tendrils curl around trellis wires and keep the canopy in place.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the function of leaves?

A

The leaves are the main site of photosynthesis in the vine.

The sugars produced in photosynthesis are used for vine growth and metabolism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Define stomata

A

Stomata are pores, found in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that facilitate gas exchange.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What’s the function of stomata?

A

Stomata (pores) open on the underside of the leaves, letting water diffuse out and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis to enter.

33
Q

Define transpiration

A

Transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.

As water diffuses from the leaf, transpiration draws water and nutrients from the soil up through the vine to the leaves.

34
Q

When do stomata close? Why?

A

Stomata partially close if the vine is water stressed. This can help conserve water, but limits photosynthesis by preventing carbon dioxide from entering the vine

35
Q

What are inflorescences?

A

The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers on a stem, which becomes a bunch of grapes at fruit set.

36
Q

What is the average number of inflorescences?

A

The number of inflorescences on each main shoot can depend on the grape variety, but is usually between one and three.

37
Q

What are bunches?

A

A bunch of grapes is a fertilised inflorescence.

38
Q

How do bunches vary?

A

The characteristics of the individual grapes, as well as the size and shape of the bunch, varies between grape varieties and even between different clones of the same grape variety.

39
Q

What are the risk of tight bunches?

A

Some grape varieties can have very tight bunches (e.g. Pinot Noir), which are more prone to fungal diseases inside the bunch due to damage to the grape skins.

40
Q

What is a grape?

A

A grape is a type of berry and is made up of pulp, skin and seeds.

41
Q

What compounds are found in the pulp?

A

The pulp contains water, sugars, acids and some aroma compounds and aroma precursors.

The pulp makes up the majority of the grape’s weight and volume and in most grapes is colourless.

42
Q

How are grapes with red coloured pulp called?

A

Teinturiers

These varieties are not very common. An example is Alicante Bouschet

43
Q

What compounds are found in the skin?

A

The skin of the grape contains a high concentration of aroma compounds and aroma precursors, tannins and colour compounds.

The amount of tannins and colour in black grapes is significantly higher than in white grapes.

44
Q

What compounds are found in the seeds?

A

Seeds contain oils, tannins and the embryo, which can grow into a new plant.

Seeds mature inside the grape, turning yellow to dark brown.

45
Q

What is the bloom?

A

Bloom is a powdery waxy coating, that covers the surface of the grape.

46
Q

Define one-year-old wood.

A

One-year-old wood refers to the main shoots from the last growing season that were kept at pruning.

47
Q

What does the amount of one-year-old wood depend on?

A

The amount of one-year-old wood will depend on the pruning and training decisions made by the grape grower.

48
Q

What’s the function of one-year-old wood?

A

Importantly, the one-year-old wood supports the compound buds that will break to release the main shoots for the upcoming growing season.

49
Q

What are the two main pruning techniques for one-year-old wood?

A
  1. cane-pruned
  2. spur-pruned.
50
Q

What is permanent wood?

A

These are the woody parts of the vine that are older than one year, including the trunk.

51
Q

What are cordons?

A

Depending on pruning and training decisions, some vines also have one or more horizontal arms of permanent wood, often called cordons.

52
Q

What are the functions of cordons and the trunk in permanent wood?

A

Cordons and the trunk in permanent wood provide support for the other parts of the vine.

Transport water and solutes to and from different parts of the vine and store carbohydrates and nutrients.

53
Q

What are the functions of roots?

A
  1. anchoring the vine
  2. provide uptake of water and nutrients;
  3. store carbohydrates
  4. produce hormones that have important functions within vine growth and grape ripening
54
Q

What is the distribution of the main framework of roots influenced by?

A

By the soil properties, irrigation, cultivation and the type of rootstock.

55
Q

How deep can vine roots grow?

A

Most of the vine’s roots are found in the top 50 cm of the soil, although vine roots have been found that reach over six metres down into the soil.

56
Q

Why are root tips important?

A

The water and nutrients are absorbed at the root tips, where the roots are actively growing.

57
Q

What are the main types of vine propagation in modern Viticulture?

A
  1. Cuttings
  2. Layering
58
Q

Define a cutting.

A

A cutting is a section of a vine shoot that is planted and then grows as a new plant.

59
Q

What are the advantages of cutting?

A

Cutting is the most common propagation technique, due to:

  1. many small cuttings can be taken from a vine and propagated at the same time
  2. it permits the use of rootstocks, which can easily be grafted onto the vine cutting before it is planted
  3. nurseries are able to treat vine cuttings to avoid spread of diseases.
60
Q

What’s layering?

A

Layering is a method of filling gaps in a vineyard (e.g. due to the death of a vine) by using shoots from an established neighbouring vine to produce a new vine.

61
Q

Describe the layering technique?

A

A cane is bent down and a section of it is buried in the ground. The tip of the cane points up out of the ground. The section that is buried takes root. Once new roots are established, the cane linking the new growth to the original plant is cut.

62
Q

What are the main disadvantages of layering?

A
  1. The new vine grows on its own roots, not those of a rootstock, and this method is therefore not always suitable.
  2. The new vine will have no protection against phylloxera or have the qualities (such as the desired yield) that a choice of rootstocks offers
63
Q

Why are vines commonly propagated by cutting and layering techniques?

A

They create new plants that are usually genetically identical to the parent plant, and have the same characteristics.

Importantly, in viticulture, vines are not propagated through seeds.

64
Q

Why is seed propagation NOT used in Viticulture?

A

Vines that grow through seeds are not genetically identical to the parent vines and although they can show similar characteristics to their parents, more often they are notably different.

65
Q

What causes diversity within the vines of the same grape variety?

A

Random mutations in the genetic code at each cell division during plant growth.

Many of these mutations have no effect on the vine; however, some will cause the new vine to have slightly different characteristics (e.g. smaller or larger grapes, thicker or thinner grape skins, more or less disease resistance, etc.).

66
Q

What is clonal selection?

A

Selecting a SINGLE plant with the most favorable characteristics for propagation by cuttings

Vines with favourable characteristics are selected by vine nurseries or grape growers for propagation by cuttings in order to grow new vines with these favourable characteristics.

67
Q

What is a vine clone? Give an example.

A

It’s a vine genetically identical to the parent vine, with slightly different characteristics occurring due to mutations.

Pinot Noir is a grape variety with many clones.

68
Q

When can a new grape variety appear? Give an example.

A

On rare occasions, a mutation might be so significant that the new vine is classified as a new grape variety. For example, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are all mutations of the grape variety Pinot.

69
Q

What are advantages and disadvantages of clonal selection?

A
    • have been tested to be free from virus infection by nurseries
    • only a very limited number of clones may be available from nurseries
    • creates relatively uniform vineyard, especially if natural factors are consistent across the region
    • management of the vineyard becomes simpler, if all of the vines grow in a similar way and ripen grapes at the same time
    • less diversity in the fruit and hence potentially producing a wine with less complexity and balance
    • makes the vineyard more susceptible to disease (the identical vines are likely to all be equally susceptible to a disease or pest).
70
Q

Define mass selection?

A

Cuttings from SEVERAL different vines, also termed Selection Massale.

The technique requires vineyard owners to take cuttings from the vines in their own vineyard(s) and cultivate these cuttings.

Cuttings are taken from several different vines. Generally, the best-performing vines are selected (e.g. those that consistently yield fruit with the desired characteristics). These vines are selected after several years of monitoring and recording their performance.

71
Q

What are advantages and disadvantages of mass selection?

A
    • increased diversity of planting material in the vineyard and throughout the region
    • enhanced fruit quality and/or yield (as the vineyard owner is using their own unique planting material
    • costly in terms of time and labour (the selection and monitoring of best vines)
    • can increase the spread of vine diseases (if the parent vine is infected by disease (e.g. a virus).
72
Q

How are new grape varieties produced?

A

From seeds

73
Q

What is cross fertilisation?

A

The pollen from the stamens of the flowers of ONE vine is transferred to the stigmas of the flowers of ANOTHER vine and fertilisation occurs.

It is thought that many grape varieties with a long history of cultivation were created through cross fertilisation that happened by chance in the wild.

Cabernet Sauvignon was formed by a chance cross fertilisation of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

74
Q

What is a crossing?

A

When the two parent vines are from the same species. For example, Pinotage is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault.

75
Q

What is a hybrid?

A

When the two parent vines are from different species.

Vidal Blanc, from Ugni Blanc (V. vinifera) and a member of the Seibel family (American parentage).

76
Q

Give example of new grape varieties formed by cross fertilization in the wild and in a laboratory?

A

in the wild:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon (a cross of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc)

in a laboratory:

  • Müller-Thurgau (a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale).
77
Q

What do scientist aim for when creating new varieties?

A

The aim is usually to create an offspring that has the favourable characteristics of the two parent vines, but in reality this often does not happen.

For example, Müller-Thurgau, a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale, was created to have the fruit quality of Riesling and the high yield of Madeleine Royale. However, while it has proved to be a variety valuable for its yields, very few would claim it has the same quality potential as Riesling.

78
Q

Why do new grape varieties rarely come to market?

A

The main reason is consumer resistance.