Original research articles

Reinforcement of the radiative and thermic stresses of the grape vine. Repercussions on yeast surface microflora

Abstract

All along the ripening period, the radiative and thermic stresses of the grapevine may be reinforced by the use of a reflective soil cover (aluminized film). Such a treatment leads to repercussions on the berries, on the must composition and finally on the wine quality. During such a preliminary experiment, we demonstrated that the temperature increase and/or the reinforcement of the reflected ultraviolet radiations (measured at 254 nm) at the level of grape berries severely impaired the development of yeast cells at their surfaces. By means of an artificial inoculation of grapes at the beginning of the ripening period with a mixture of four different yeast genera (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Pichiafermentans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe), we demonstrated that the repartition of yeast genera amongst this population was affected by the treatment of stocks with the aluminized film: during the experiment presented in this paper, the Saccharomyces genus was favoured. One may consider by extension similar effects resulting from the reflective properties of some natural soils. Such effects may considerably influence the distribution of wild yeast flora during the spontaneous fermentation of musts. If such an hypothesis is confirmed at a local or regional level, it will represent a first significant piece of the definition of one of the aspects of the" terroir" effect on the characteristics of wines.

Authors


Jean-Michel Salmon

jmsalmon@ensam.inra.fr

Affiliation : UE999 Pech-Rouge, INRA, 11430 Gruissan, France


Nathalie Mailhac

Affiliation : INRA, ISVVM-IPV, Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Technologie des Fermentations, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier (France)


François-Xavier Sauvage

Affiliation : Unité de Recherche sur les Produits de la Vigne, ENSAM-INRA, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France


Marie-José Biron

Affiliation : INRA, ISVVM-IPV, Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Technologie des Fermentations, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier (France)


Jean-Pierre Robin

Affiliation : Unité de Recherche sur les Produits de la Vigne, ENSAM-INRA, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France

Attachments

No supporting information for this article

Article statistics

Views: 519

Downloads

PDF: 230

Citations

PlumX