Influence of water and nitrogen deficit on fruit ripening and aroma potential of Vitis vinifera L cv Sauvignon blanc in field conditions

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 73 - 85
• Main Authors: des Gachons, Catherine Peyrot, Leeuwen, Cornelis Van, Tominaga, Takatoshi, Soyer, Jean-Pierre, Gaudillère, Jean-Pierre, Dubourdieu, Denis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 15.01.2005; Wiley; John Wiley and Sons, Limited
• Subjects: 3MH; 4MMP; 4MMPOH; acidity; aroma precursors; Biological and medical sciences; carbon isotope composition; crop quality; Crop science; Food engineering; Food industries; France; Fruit and vegetable industries; fruit composition; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; grape aroma; grape composition; leaf area; leaf water potential; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; nitrogen content; nitrogen status; nutrient deficiencies; odor compounds; ripening; Sauvignon blanc; shoot growth; soil; soil fertility; soil organic matter; soil water deficit; sugars; terroir; vine; vineyard soils; viticulture; Vitis vinifera; volatile organic compounds; volatile thiols; Water; water deficit; water holding capacity; wine cultivars; wine grapes; France; Water; 4MMPOH; grape composition; water deficit; soil; Vitis vinifera; 3MH; Sauvignon; Plant part; Vitidaceae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Sauvignon blanc; Chemical composition; Aroma; volatile thiols; Isotopes; vine; nitrogen status; Fruit; 4MMP; leaf water potential; Plant leaf; Nitrogen; Carbon; shoot growth; terroir; Ripening; Soils; Spermatophyta; aroma precursors; grape aroma; carbon isotope composition; leaf area
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.1919

S‐Cysteine conjugate precursors of three volatile thiols were monitored in Vitis vinifera L cv Sauvignon blanc grapes during fruit ripening to assess the influence of vine water and nitrogen status on the grape aroma potential in field conditions. Four dry farmed plots were studied in the Pessac‐Léognan and Graves appellations (Bordeaux area) in 1998, which was a very dry vintage, and in 1999, when regular summer rainfall occurred. Soil water‐holding capacity ranged from very low to high. Soil total nitrogen content was related to soil organic matter content, which was highly variable on the four plots. Vine vigour was enhanced by both high water and nitrogen status. Major compounds in grapes depended mainly on vine water status. Water deficit‐stressed vines produced small berries with low sugar and low total acidity. Grape aroma potential was highest in vines under mild water deficit and moderate nitrogen supply. Severe water deficit stress seemed to limit aroma potential, as did nitrogen deficiency. Consequences for site selection and irrigation management for Sauvignon blanc are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry