Understand and improve vineyard longevity

Keywords : longevity, production, mortality, dieback, vine

The lifespan of a plot of vines, in other words, its longevity, is determined when it is pulled up. Theoretically, this occurs when the production profitability per hectare falls below a certain threshold. This decrease in yield per hectare arises due to a decrease in the vines’ agronomic production and/or a decrease in the number of structures capable of production (death of spurs, branches or the entire vine). The concept of longevity stands at the juncture between agronomy, pathology and economics. This project consists of four transversal actions for the exploration, understanding and more effective management of longevity in the vineyards.

Partners

Led by Marion Claverie of the IFV, this project involves the BNIC viticultural station, two INRA units (the UMR Integrative Tree Physics and Physiology in Changing Environment, and the UMR Vineyard Health and Agroecology) and eight Chambers of Agriculture (Vaucluse, Drôme, Gard, Hérault, Loir-et-Cher, Jura, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire).

Actions

• Action 1 : Application of a simple method for diagnosis and hierarchisation of the causes of low yields per hectare in various vineyard configurations.
• Action 2 : Designing the technical specifications for the implementation of trials aimed at identifying the stages that are key to the longevity of a block of vines exposed to wood diseases.
• Action 3 : Characterisation of blocks of old vines which perform well, and improvement of knowledge concerning the relationship between age and hydraulic conductivity.
• Action 4 : Creation of technical specifications for the development of a decision-making tool to aid the management of dieback in existing blocks of vines.

Programme

This three-year project runs from Spring 2017 to Spring 2020.