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Latin America offers a unique point of view into the adaptation of viticulture to climate change through its rich diversity of climates, traditional knowledge, and scientific innovation. This review synthesizes the current research and technological developments across major wine-producing countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Argentina shows key adaptation strategies, including high-altitude vineyard relocation, clonal and rootstock selection, canopy and water management, and the conservation of Criolla and other autochthonous grapevine varieties. In Brazil, tropical viticulture and breeding programs led by Embrapa exemplify advancements in disease-resistant and climate-resilient cultivars. Chile’s heroic and southern viticulture highlights the importance of old vines, microclimatic heterogeneity, and territorial identity. Uruguay stands out for its terroir-based research and producer-led adaptation strategies. This review also addresses systemic challenges in scientific publishing, particularly the underrepresentation of Latin American researchers in global vitivinicultural discourse. These disparities underscore the need for inclusive science that values local knowledge and promotes equity in research funding and dissemination. Overall, Latin America stands out not only as a region highly vulnerable to climate change, but as an emerging model of adaptation and innovation, demonstrating how resilient, sustainable, and culturally rooted wine production can thrive under shifting environmental conditions.

On a global scale, agricultural systems consume approximately one third of the energy available on the planet. Viticulture is an important agricultural activity for Brazil, mainly due to the characteristics of family production and because it is a product with high added value. Studies addressing the energy balance in grape production in Brazil have rarely been conducted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy balance in family-based viticulture in a hot climate region in Brazil. The mean production data of 11 table grape orchards (Vitis labrusca L.), located in the municipality of Guarapari, state of Espírito Santo/Brazil, were used. The energy coefficient (MJ) of each component involved in the production process per hectare (ha) of cultivation was quantified. The energy inputs were categorized as direct and indirect energy. The study considered ripe grapes and vine pruning residues as available energy. The direct input energy accounted for 60.62% (18,515.5 MJ), and the indirect input accounted for 39.38% (12,027.01 MJ). Renewable energy contributed 24% (7180.27 MJ) and nonrenewable energy contributed 76% (23,362.24 MJ) of the entries. The ripe grapes and pruning residues corresponded to 78% (192,771.88 MJ) and 22% (52,820.00 MJ), respectively, of the outputs. The total energy efficiency (TEE), grape energy efficiency (GEE) and grape energy conversion (GEC) were 8.04, 6.31, and 0.53 kg MJ–1, respectively. The grape specific energy (GSE) and net available energy (NAE) were 1.87 MJ kg–1 and 215,049.37 MJ, respectively. The sustainability levels were considerably increased when the pruning residues were converted into viticulture inputs.

In viticulture, choosing the most suitable rootstock for a specific scion cultivar is an efficient and cost-effective way to increase yield and enhance the physicochemical characteristics of the fruit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of the ‘BRS Tainá’ grapevine on different rootstocks under the conditions of the Sub-Middle São Francisco Valley. The main experimental factor consisted of eight rootstocks (IAC 313, IAC 572, IAC 766, 101-14 MgT, Paulsen 1103, Ramsey, SO4, and Teleki 5C), arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates. The experiment was conducted over four production cycles, from 2021 to 2023, in a commercial crop area in Petrolina, PE, Brazil. There were significant effects of rootstocks for the yield and number of bunches per plant, as well as berry length and firmness. ‘BRS Tainá’ achieved the highest yield (22.2 kg per plant) when grafted onto the Paulsen 1103 rootstock, which was superior to the yield on 101-14 MgT, IAC 313, and IAC 572 rootstocks. The highest number of bunches (88) was obtained with ‘BRS Tainá’ grafted on Paulsen 1103, while the lowest number (63) was obtained on IAC 572; both these rootstocks were not significantly different from the other rootstocks. For all scion–rootstock combinations, the mean values for soluble solid (SS) content, titratable acidity (TA), and the SS/TA ratio were similar to those previously described for ‘BRS Tainá’, meeting the commercialization standard. The results for the yield and number of bunches per plant indicate the suitability of grafting ‘BRS Tainá’ on Paulsen 1103 under the semi-arid tropical conditions of the São Francisco Valley.

Aureobasidium isolated from Vitis vinifera (cv Chardonnay) grapevine tissues were characterised using morphological and molecular techniques. Species level identification of 29 isolates was accomplished by partial amplification and sequencing of the ITS region (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) using universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. A comparison of nucleotide sequences using BLAST followed by phylogenetic analysis revealed that all isolates examined were Aureobasidium pullulans. Strain level discrimination of a total of 100 epiphytic Aureobasidium isolates including three reference strains was successfully carried out using two inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, (AAC)5 and (GTG)5 and the Intron Splice Junction R1 (ISJ-R1) primer in which 24, 24 and 15 scorable bands were produced for each primer, respectively. The high level of genetic variation recorded among the isolates further highlighted the high levels of strain diversity among A. pullulans residing on grapevines. Thirty-two epiphytic Aureobasidium isolates were examined for their ability to inhibit the growth of Greeneria uvicola, responsible for bitter rot of grapes. Using an in-vitro dual-culture antagonism assay, all isolates inhibited the growth of G. uvicola (Isolates DAR 77272 and DAR 77273) with inhibition ranging from 15 to 85%. Three Aureobasidium isolates were then examined for their ability to inhibit G. uvicola when co-inoculated onto detached berries, leaves and grape bunches growing on potted vines in a glass house. All isolates reduced the severity of bitter rot infection. The results indicate that A. pullulans has the potential to suppress bitter rot of grapes.

Tannat is a Vitis vinifera cultivar with typically high phenolic compound contents, showing intense coloration, well-bodied, and great aging potential. However, even with this great potential, this variety is still commercially underexplored in the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley (SSFV). This work aimed to characterize the typicity of Tannat red wines from Sub-middle São Francisco Valley (SSFV), Brazil. In addition, the present work represents the first study featuring phenolic compounds quantification and antioxidant activity of Tannat in tropical climate wine-producing regions. Considering the condition of a short-applied maceration time during the winemaking, the tropical Tannat wine showed significant antioxidant activity and high phenolic contents. Trans-caftaric, malvidin-3-O-glucoside, and procyanidin B1 stood out among the phenolic compounds quantified, presenting Tannat with the potential to be an important grape variety to tropical wine-producing regions in Brazil, containing high contents of bioactive compounds. Previously results to compounds (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin B2, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, chlorogenic acid, and piceatannol were not found in Tannat wines. Further studies are necessary to make the Tannat grape’s adaptation better in tropical climate conditions, including investigating the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of Tannat red wines with longer maceration times during the winemaking.

The new table grape cultivar BRS Tainá produces white firm seedless grapes, agreeable flavor, balanced sugar-acid ratio, good berry adherence to the pedicel and yield of 50 ton ha-1 year-1. It is recommended for the tropical conditions of the Submédio do Vale do São Francisco. Propagative material is acquired from nurseries licensed by Embrapa.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and physicochemical characteristics of ‘BRS Magna’ and ‘Isabel Precoce’ grapes influenced by two types of pruning. The experiment was carried out during two growing seasons in a commercial vineyard of Petrolina, PE, in the period 2013-2014. Treatments were represented by two cultivars, ‘Isabel Precoce’ and ‘BRS Magna’, and two types of pruning, with selection during plant formation (P1) and without selection (P2) of lateral branches, using a randomized experimental block design, in subdivided plots and four replicates. After pruning P2, the amount of buds kept on vines was greater than after pruning P1, favoring an increase in yield. However, the sizes of bunches and berries, content of soluble solids, and titratable acidity were not influenced by the pruning type. In general, the sizes of bunches and berries in ‘BRS Magna’ were larger than in the ‘Isabel Precoce’ cultivar. Conversely, content of soluble solids and titratable acidity varied among cultivars as a function of production cycle and type of pruning; however, within the standards described for both cultivars and accepted by the Brazilian legislation. RESUMO: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o desempenho produtivo e características físico-químicas das uvas ‘BRS Magna’ e ‘Isabel Precoce’ submetidas a dois tipos de poda. Um experimento foi realizado durante dois ciclos de produção, nos anos de 2013 e 2014, em um vinhedo comercial em Petrolina, PE. Os tratamentos foram representados por duas cultivares copa, ‘Isabel Precoce’ e ‘BRS Magna’, e dois tipos de poda, com seleção de ramos laterais na formação da planta (P1) e sem seleção de ramos laterais (P2), utilizando delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. A quantidade de gemas mantidas na videira após a poda é mais elevada na poda P2, favorecendo o aumento da produtividade, mas o tamanho dos cachos e das bagas e o teor de sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável não foram influenciados pelo tipo de poda. O tamanho dos cachos e das bagas da cultivar ‘BRS Magna’ é, de modo geral, maior que os de ‘Isabel Precoce’. Por outro lado, o teor de sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável variaram entre as cultivares em função do ciclo de produção e do tipo de poda, estando dentro dos padrões descritos para ambas cultivares e aceitos pela legislação brasileira.

Since 1998, the Ain-Karim Vineyard has been growing different grape varieties for the production of high-altitude tropical wines in the municipality of Sutamarchan, located in the Alto Ricaurte region of Boyaca (Colombia). Pruning is used to limit the number and length of branches, generating a suitable balance between plant vigor and production; thereby, regulating fruit quantity and quality and ensuring reserves for the subsequent production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three pruning types (short = two buds on two spurs; long = five buds on three spurs and mixed = combination of short and long pruning types) on the fruit quality of V. vinifera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc varieties. To accomplish this, a completely randomized two-factor design was used. Physicochemical variables of fruit quality (fresh cluster weight, water content, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), technical maturity index (TMI), and pH) were determined at harvest. The long pruning type presented the highest values for the fresh cluster weight and TSS of the fruits from both varieties and a higher TMI in the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. These results indicate that, under the conditions of the vineyard, long pruning is the most suitable.

Invasive diseases present an increasing problem worldwide; however, genomic techniques are now available to investigate the timing and geographical origin of such introductions. We employed genomic techniques to demonstrate that the bacterial pathogen causing Pierce’s disease of grapevine (PD) is not native to the US as previously assumed, but descended from a single genotype introduced from Central America. PD has posed a serious threat to the US wine industry ever since its first outbreak in Anaheim, California in the 1880s and continues to inhibit grape cultivation in a large area of the country. It is caused by infection of xylem vessels by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa, a genetically distinct subspecies at least 15,000 years old. We present five independent kinds of evidence that strongly support our invasion hypothesis: 1) a genome-wide lack of genetic variability in X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa found in the US, consistent with a recent common ancestor; 2) evidence for historical allopatry of the North American subspecies X. fastidiosa subsp. Multiplex and X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa; 3) evidence that X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa evolved in a more tropical climate than X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex; 4) much greater genetic variability in the proposed source population in Central America, variation within which the US genotypes are phylogenetically nested; and 5) the circumstantial evidence of importation of known hosts (coffee plants) from Central America directly into southern California just prior to the first known outbreak of the disease. The lack of genetic variation in X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa in the US suggests that preventing additional introductions is important since new genetic variation may undermine PD control measures, or may lead to infection of other crop plants through the creation of novel genotypes via inter-subspecific recombination. In general, geographically mixing of previously isolated subspecies should be avoided.

In organic viticulture, copper-based fungicides are commonly used to suppress Downy Mildew infection, caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola. However, the frequent and intensive use of such fungicides leads to accumulation of the heavy metal in soil and nearby waters with adverse effects on the ecosystem. Therefore, alternative, organic fungicides against Downy Mildew are urgently needed to reduce the copper load in vineyards. In this study, the use of Warburgia ugandensis Sprague (Family Canellacea) leaf and bark extracts as potential fungicides against Downy Mildew were evaluated. In vitro (microtiter) and in vivo (leaf discs, seedlings) tests were conducted, as well as field trials to determine the efficacy of the extracts against Downy Mildew. The results revealed an MIC100 of 500 µg/mL for the leaf extract and 5 µg/mL for the bark extract. Furthermore, experiments with leaf discs and seedlings demonstrated a strong protective effect of the extracts for up to 48 h under (semi-) controlled conditions. However, in field trials the efficacy of the extracts distinctly declined, regardless of the extracts’ origin and concentration.