Impact of Clonal Variability in Vitis vinifera Cabernet franc on Grape Composition, Wine Quality, Leaf Blade Stilbene Content, and Downy Mildew Resistance

Abstract

In this study, 10 clones of Vitis vinifera Cabernet franc (not yet commercial) have been phenotyped on precocity, grape composition, and assessment of wine quality made by microvinification in 2008−2010. Additionally, two original criteria have been considered: concentration of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) in grapes and wines (the green bell pepper flavor) and resistance of grapevines to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) by stilbene quantification upon infection. Precocity of veraison varied up to four days at veraison. Berry size and yield were highly variable among clones. However, these variables were not correlated. Tanins and anthocyanins varied among clones in grapes and wines. Variations in grape and wine IBMP were not significant. Some clones showed lower susceptibility for downy mildew on leaves. Lower susceptibility was linked to a higher production of stilbenic phytoalexins involved in downy mildew resistance mechanisms.

Clonal differences and impact of defoliation on Sauvignon blanc (Vitis vinifera L.) wines: a chemical and sensory investigation

“…Other amino acids, such as γ ‐aminobutric acid, proline, methionine, threonine, cysteine, glycine, tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine were significantly altered by the choice of clone and the highest concentrations were measured in SB11 control. A significant variation in yeast assimilable nitrogen between nine different clones of Cabernet franc was recently reported . Different managements and climatic conditions could promote the selection of natural mutations what could result in different grape quality traits between the two clones studied.…”

Ampelographic identification and comparison of some table grape (Vitis viniferaL.) clones

“…Van Leeuwen et al (2013) phenotyped 10 clones of V. vinifera 'Cabernet Franc' (not yet released commercially) assessing precocity, grape composition and assessment of wine quality and detected some differences between clones. Scalabrelli et al (2004), Zulini et al (2005), Loureiro et al (2011) and Dimovska et al (2012) obtained similar results with different grape clones.…”

“…Grape cultivars vary in their genetic variability. For cultivars with greatest genetic diversity, clonal selection is a major issue in the production of quality wines (Keller 2010;Van Leeuwen & Roby 2010;Jahnke et al 2011;Van Leeuwen et al 2013).…”

Antioxidant properties of leaves from different accessions of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Tempranillo after applying biotic and/or environmental modulator factors

“…Thus, precocity of the phenological cycle, yield, berry sugars and total acidity, berry phenolic composition and disease resistance (Van Leeuwen et al, 2013) and response to environmental changes varied broadly among accessions (Mannini et al, 2010). However, to date, no attention had been paid on intra-varietal diversity on phenolic composition and its antioxidant potential in leaves.…”