Physiological changes and carbohydrates dynamics of Chardonnay grapevines affected by reduced irrigation and recovering regimes

Abstract

The aims of this travel were to present results obtained from the Wine Australia funded project "UA 08/03" on grapevine physiology and carbon economies under severe water stress and on resilience capacity of grapevines in recovery from severe water stress at the 17th International Symposium, GiESCO 2011 held in Asti and Alba (Italy) and to obtain feedback and establish networks/collaborations with the networks/collaborations with the international
scientific community at the 17th International Symposium, GiESCO 2011 held in Asti (Italy)

Summary

The main objective of this project was to attend the 17th International Symposium GiESCO that was held in Asti and Alba, Italy.

The topics of discussion for this year GiESCO meeting included:

* World formation and transfer in viticulture

* Sustainable viticulture and terroir

* Ecophysiology and climatology

* Vineyard and territory management

* Advanced technological viticulture

* Tropical and sub-tropical viticulture

The conference outcomes can be summarised using four key messages and topics to be implemented in future grapevine research: i) adaptation to climate change, ii) sustainability, iii) innovative techniques and iv) focus on rootstocks. Key discussions, interesting conference presentations and possible collaborations will be discussed in detail in this report.

A second objective was the attendance to a study tour to some Northern Italian wine regions (wineries and vineyards), I have also visited Universities and other institution involved in grapevine research in order to gather information about current practices and techniques used in Italian viticulture and to establish possible collaborations with Italian universities and researchers.