Missing Links in Predicting Berry Sunburn in Future Vineyards

Area of Science:

• Viticulture and Plant Physiology
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Agricultural Modeling

Background:

• Berry sunburn is a significant viticulture issue, causing substantial yield and quality reductions.
• The progression of sunburn and its relationship with environmental factors like heatwaves and light are not fully elucidated.
• Grapevine architecture's sensitivity to environmental shifts necessitates adaptive mitigation strategies for future vineyards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify knowledge gaps in predicting grapevine berry sunburn.
• To propose a modeling framework for investigating berry sunburn under future climate scenarios.
• To integrate dynamic canopy growth, environmental interactions, and management practices into a predictive model.

Main Methods:

• Developing a predictive model for berry sunburn.
• Incorporating dynamic grapevine canopy growth and its environmental interactions.
• Considering plant management strategies like shoot positioning and leaf removal.
• Utilizing functional-structural plant models to simulate complex vineyard dynamics.

Main Results:

• The study proposes a novel modeling approach to address complex interactions driving berry sunburn.
• The framework aims to simulate the effects of management practices on sunburn over time.
• It emphasizes the explicit consideration of grapevine architecture in predictive models.

Conclusions:

• Functional-structural plant models offer a promising avenue for *in silico* investigation of berry sunburn.
• Addressing open issues in modeling can significantly advance knowledge on reducing sunburn risks.
• This approach can support the identification of effective, data-driven sunburn-reducing strategies for future vineyards.