Grapes resistant to mildew and powdery mildew to promote sustainable viticulture
The NEIKER technology centre is participating in the European GRAPEBREED4IPM project, which advocates the use of disease-resistant grape varieties to reduce the use of fungicides.
The initiative contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Farm to Fork initiative.
Reducing chemical treatments, preserving the environment and maintaining grape quality are the main objectives that currently shape the roadmap for European viticulture. Achieving these goals is a challenge when diseases such as mildew and powdery mildew, which can affect both production and product quality, are usually controlled through the application of fungicides. In this scenario, it is a priority for the sector to promote innovations that allow cultivation with fewer inputs and, at the same time, increase resilience to diseases that affect vineyards.
To this end, the NEIKER technology centre, an entity under the Basque Government’s Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, is participating in the European GRAPEBREED4IPM project, which focuses on the development and promotion of disease-resistant grapevine varieties (DRVs) capable of adapting to the soil and climate conditions of each region.
To this end, different lines of selection are being researched that combine genetic resistance to diseases, evaluating their behaviour and performance in production plots under real growing conditions.
In this regard, NEIKER, with extensive experience in sustainable solutions for the wine sector, offers technical support in the selection of improved plants and collaborates with local winegrowers to identify the varieties that perform best against diseases and are well adapted to the soils and climates of the region. ‘This local work forms the basis for evaluating the effectiveness of new varieties under real growing conditions,’ explains Ana Díez, a researcher in the centre’s Plant Production and Protection Department.
To place these results in a broader context and validate their applicability, the centre participates in the OSCAR observatory, promoted by INRAE and IFV in France. This is a network that brings together plots in production with resistant varieties in different European environments, facilitating the exchange of technical information and contributing to the refinement of management strategies adapted to different climatic and soil conditions.
Furthermore, in order to understand the effects of these new varieties on the vineyard ecosystem, NEIKER is participating in the assessment of biodiversity in plots with DRVs, both in organic farming systems and in those with low chemical protection. Specifically, the presence of arthropods, the microbiota associated with grapes and other ecological indicators are analysed to study the interaction between resistant varieties and the natural environment of the vineyard. ‘The information collected will be used to design agronomic practices that promote crop sustainability, reduce environmental impact and favour the natural balance of the ecosystem,’ says Díez.
