In the fiscal year 2022-2023, the OWB committed $359,409 to seven highly ranked viticulture and enology projects that were reviewed and recommended to OWB by its Research Committee comprised of volunteers from across the state.
Delimitation and Control of Vine Mealybug in Oregon
Josh Vlach, Entomologist Oregon Department of Agriculture
Vine mealybug (VMB), Planococcus ficus, was detected for the first time in Oregon in 2021 in Jackson County. Aside from being a damaging pest, it is an excellent vector of viruses, in particular, leafcurl viruses. If allowed to spread through the state, conservative estimates put annual treatment costs in the millions of dollars. Pheromone trap-based surveys were conducted intensively from 2009 to 2015 in Oregon, and in more recent years in Jackson County. No VMB was found before 2021. As a result, we can be fairly confident that the pest is not widespread in Oregon.
Project reference: 2022-2679
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Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTD) in Oregon Vineyards: A Pilot Project on Epidemiology and Management
Achala N. KC, Associate Professor, Tree fruits and wine grapes pathology, Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center, Oregon State University – Co-PI: Patty Skinkis, Professor – Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University
This study provides insight into common GTD pathogens in Oregon vineyards, which is important in implementing management practices to prevent and mitigate disease. Furthermore, detection of GTD pathogens in young vineyards suggests that adoption of preventative disease management practices is crucial for thousands of acres of newly planted vineyards in Oregon.
Project reference: 2022- 2338_GTD Pilot
Determination of Optimal Irrigation Time
Alec Levin, Viticulturist and Assistant Professor, Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center and Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University.
Delaying irrigation initiation can have many positive direct and indirect effects on grapevine growth and development, and ultimately on fruit and wine quality. The overall objective of this research project is to determine the optimal irrigation initiation time using declining stem water potential thresholds and relating grape yield and berry composition metrics to those thresholds. Our central hypothesis is that growers can substantially delay irrigation initiation time without any negative effects on current or future production.
Project Reference: 2447 Optimal irrigation Time
Impact of Malolactic Fermentation (MLF) Timing and the use of non-Saccharomyces yeast during Cold Soaking on Pinot noir Wine Color and Sensory Properties.
James Osborne, Professor, Enology Extension Specialist, Oregon State University.
The malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a key process in the production of red wines and some white wines. While it is commonly conducted after the completion of the alcoholic fermentation (sequential), it can also be induced at the same time where Oenococcus oeni is inoculated shortly after the beginning of alcoholic fermentation (concurrent). This project seeks to increase understanding of the impact of MLF timing on Pinot noir as well as interactions with no-Saccharomyces yeast that may influence color and mouthfeel properties. Findings from this study will allow strategies to be developed for the use of MLF and non-Saccharomyces yeasts to improve Pinot noir wine sensory characteristics.
Project reference: 2022-2704 – MLF Timing and Color
Baseline Data for Smoke Exposure and Taint of Nine Grape Varieties and Corresponding Wines
Elizabeth Tomasino, Cole Cerrato
The main objective of this project is to provide baseline measurements of multiple varieties of grapes and wines grown and made in Oregon for comparison when smoke events happen. Essentially this is to create a database of naturally occurring smoke-related compounds from samples made from non-smoke exposed grape and wine. Compounds commonly found in smoke being analyzed include the free phenols; guaiacol, 4-methyl guaiacol, o/m/p-cresols, syringols, and 4-methyl syringols. The 5 main bound phenol glycosides include guaiacol rutinoside, methylguaiacol rutinoside, syringol gentiobioside, methyl syringol gentiobioside, cresol rutinoside and phenol rutinoside. Samples are also being stored for when thiophenol analysis is available.
Project Reference: 2022-2792 (2719) Smoke Baseline Compounds in Oregon Wines
Botrytis Bunch Rot: Who, Where, When, and What to Use
Walt Mahaffee, Research Plant Pathologist USDA-ARS-HCRL
This project will aid Botrytis bunch rot management by improving our understanding how and where Botrytis bunch rot disease epidemics start and progress. First, it will identify when inoculum is available and infects fruit to optimize disease management practices. Second, it will determine the extent of fungicide resistance in Oregon vineyards to mitigate further spread of resistant populations. Together, the results from this project will allow Oregon grape growers to make better-informed integrative pest management decisions to control bunch rot.
Rootstock effects on mature Pinot noir growth and productivity under cool climate, dry-farmed conditions
Patty Skinkis, Professor and Viticulture Extension Specialist, Oregon State University.
The Oregon wine grape industry has experienced warmer, drier summers over the past decade. The first grafted vineyards were planted to three vigor reducing rootstocks (101-14, 3309 and Riparia Gloire). However, growers question the suitability of these rootstocks for the Willamette Valley given the drier conditions. There is great interest in understanding how rootstocks can be selected to help determine suitability for dry-farming and/or optimizing irrigation water in the region. Over three growing seasons, we are evaluating an established OSU rootstock trial (planted in 1997), with focus on Pinot noir growth response on 19 rootstocks and compared to own-rooted vines. We are monitoring phenological advancement, yield, basic fruit ripeness and more advanced measures of color and phenolics. To date, this project has shown the largest differences in rootstock is vine vegetative growth and yield, with no differences in bud break and bloom timing, but there are some differences in the start of ripening. Findings from this research will help growers make new vineyard plant material selections, by allowing them to consider the performance of varied rootstocks locally and under dry-farmed conditions.
