1.- The cultivation of the vine
The vine is a characteristic species of the agricultural culture and landscape in most of Spain, both on the peninsula and in the islands.
In general, it is a sober plant, with few soil requirements, which is why it is usually reserved for less productive soils: stony, sloping, sometimes poor in nutrients.
For the production of the best wines, the vine requires sufficient winter cold, spring rains, and moderately warm sunshine during growth and fruit ripening in the summer.
Regarding climate and meteorological factors, its general characteristics are: sensitivity to spring frosts, spring and summer hailstorms, high summer temperatures, rainfall during the grape harvest, and humid heat throughout its growing season. It also requires a climate with relatively dry, sunny, and moderately warm summers (for sugar production); and it thrives on relatively cold, rainy winters. In rainier areas such as the Basque Country or Galicia, summer humidity significantly favors fungal diseases, powdery mildew, and downy mildew.
The lowest temperatures vines can withstand in winter are down to -20°C; below that, they suffer severe damage, although older but vigorous vines withstand temperatures better than younger ones. Frosts below -2°C that occur after bud break usually completely destroy the crop. In areas at risk of late frosts, late-budding varieties should be adopted, or pruning delayed, so that, even if damage occurs, more usable shoots are available. High-altitude crops suffer less frost than low-lying ones, which are closer to the ground.
In summer, excessively high temperatures, especially when accompanied by dry air or a hot, dry wind, scorch leaves and grape bunches. Heat dries out the soil, stunts fruit growth, and accelerates ripening. It also produces sugar, which leads to high-alcohol wines after fermentation. It also lowers acidity, as potassium increases and tartaric acid decreases, in grapes and wine, making them less "fresh," more syrupy, less fragrant in storage, and more vulnerable to microbial contamination. In cool climates, wines are lower in alcohol and more acidic.
The vine is drought-resistant due to its deep roots; it is suitable for cultivation in regions with an annual rainfall of 600 to 800 mm, although it is also grown in areas with 250 mm per year if the rainfall is distributed appropriately. Precipitation during flowering can cause flower drop.
The phenology of the vine's vegetative cycle varies greatly depending on the region, vineyard, genetic variety, year-round weather, and cultivation methods. Significant variations exist within the same region or within the same designation of origin.
Vines, vines, and vineyards are characteristic of Spanish landscapes, especially those in the Mediterranean. Their importance lies in their agricultural, ecological, and cultural aspects. Due to their economic importance, it is important to conduct agrometeorological studies on this crop, its varieties, and the designations of origin of the different wines. The climate determines the crop, but also the crops (their phenology and production) and the vintages (their properties and chemical characteristics) provide information about local climates and the climatic character of a given agricultural year in a given area.
2.- Diseases
The main diseases that can affect grapevine crops are those caused by fungi, whose symptoms can be very diverse, random, and sometimes difficult to identify. Fungi are present in the soil and/or the environment, and only the right conditions for their development are necessary for them to colonize and damage the plant. Among the most important are:
Mildew
This disease is characterized by pale green spots on the upper surface of the leaves and a pubescent mold on the underside. The affected areas dry out and become brittle, causing the leaves to curl and fall. The affected grains shrink and turn brown and leathery. The tips of the shoots may also be affected.
The winegrower must remove and destroy all diseased shoots and leaves to prevent the fungus from surviving overwinter, although some spores may overwinter in buds and vines.
If infection is suspected, preventative treatments can be applied before the vines are in flower, and this operation can be repeated at intervals of 10 to 14 days, abandoning it when climatic conditions are no longer favorable for the development of the fungus or when the safety periods for phytosanitary products may overlap with the harvest date.
Powdery mildew
This disease occurs primarily when the soil is dry and the atmosphere is humid. It develops as a thin, white layer of spores, and the most obvious symptom is the gray or purple discoloration of the affected areas. The disease can also attack flowers and fruit, causing them to drop. At a later stage, the grapes lose elasticity and harden, and as they grow larger, the skin eventually splits. When this occurs, the bunches are attacked by a secondary fungus, gray rot, which can cause extensive rot.
As soon as the disease appears, the winegrower must combat it to prevent excessive damage. If the disease has already occurred in previous years, the first application of fungicide, regardless of the type used, should be made 10 to 14 days before the expected onset of the disease. There are also ways to prevent it, such as avoiding excessive shoots and foliage, to keep the bunch area well aerated.
Gray rot
It is the most damaging disease that can affect vineyards.
Affected grapes rot and become covered with a dense, grayish-brown fuzzy mass caused by the growth of the fungi. The fungi can damage the berries directly or invade the floral parts, causing the fruit to sprout already infected. In either case, once the disease has established itself, it can spread rapidly both by contact and by numerous aerial spores. In humid weather, production losses can be considerable.
Controlling the disease in vineyards is difficult. Therefore, when persistent humidity occurs, winegrowers should improve aeration of the bunches by thinning, removing bunches, and judiciously removing some of the shoots. Special fungicides are available to combat this disease, but the level of residue and the safety period for harvesting must be taken into account.
Wood diseases
This is a diverse group of diseases that are difficult to control. In some cases, such as tinder fungus, their behavior can be erratic over the years. However, it can also manifest itself in an extremely virulent form, killing the plant in a matter of days.
What this group of diseases does have in common is the destruction of the plant's vascular system, that is, the rotting of the vine's conductive tissues, which, when colonized by fungi, eventually become necrotic. The fungi develop inside the wood, which is why this group of diseases is so difficult to combat.
Currently, from a chemical perspective, there are no effective curative phytosanitary products to combat this group of diseases, so only preventive and cultural measures are available.
3.- Cultifort Recommendations
At Cultifort, we recommend prevention over chemical control. To address the group of fungal diseases in grapevine crops, we offer a wide range of options within our product portfolio, primarily for preventive purposes.
FOLIQUINO, whose main active ingredient is aluminum lignosulfonate, has a high capacity for penetration and translocation in the plant, both through the leaves and roots, with ascending and descending systemic action. Its function is to introduce aluminum salts into the plant to promote the synthesis of natural compounds that improve defense against certain fungal and bacterial pathogens in roots, trunks, branches, leaves, and fruits. By having a powerful effect on improving sap circulation, it is an important tool for combating, preventing, and recovering from wood diseases. Its application is recommended during periods of greatest vegetative development, especially in cases where wood diseases have been detected, repeating applications every 10-15 days.
En CUVIOL PLUS Copper is combined with lignosulfonates and polysaccharides. It is primarily used to prevent fungal diseases such as anthracnose and downy mildew, increasing the plant's self-defense and taking advantage of copper's antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is a very stable product, easily assimilated and highly translocated. Its use is recommended for both foliar and root applications, throughout the vine's vegetative cycle, and especially during times when climatic conditions favor the development of fungal diseases. Its application is recommended during the vegetative cycle and in climatic conditions with high humidity or rain and mild temperatures.
SPIRALIS ECO LONG LIFE It is a formulation of special organic acids together with a complex of selected peptides, related to red microalgae (Gellidium) and green (spirulina). Its functionality is based on inducing and enhancing the local and systemic endogenous increase of molecules with a high defensive capacity (alkaloids, thionines, phytoalexins, PR proteins, etc.). On the other hand, it induces structural changes in the cell walls of plants at the level of their lignification, thus constituting a physical barrier against abiotic stress. It especially stimulates the response levels of Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) and Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) of the plant against fungi and bacteria, among others. Its use is recommended every 10-15 days, when risk situations occur and/or while favorable conditions for the development of diseases are maintained. Its broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial effect, at the preventive level, and its effect on improving the post-harvest life of the fruits, make Spiralis Eco Long Life in one of the most complete and technical products in the Cultifort catalogue.
CULTISAN Cu It is a liquid combination of copper with EDTA along with chitosan. This formulation takes advantage of the synergy between the protective power of copper and the enhancement of antifungal and antibacterial defenses induced by chitosan. Foliar applications of Cultisan Cu They create a protective film around the plant surface, preventing colonization by external agents. From a nutritional perspective, they stimulate root and aerial growth, delay plant senescence, and extend its productive life. Application is recommended from the beginning of vegetative development, repeating every 20-30 days and avoiding flowering periods. Applied 10-15 days before harvesting, it helps extend the post-harvest life of the fruit.
