Canopy management practices in warm environment vineyards to improve grape yield and quality in a changing climate. A review A vademecum to vine canopy management under the challenge of global warming

Abstract

Climatic factors strongly affect grapevine productivity and quality. In recent decades, global temperature increases of over 2 °C above pre-industrial levels have impacted phenology, yield, sugar accumulation, and harvest time, ultimately affecting wine quality. Heat stress (> 35 °C) for 3–5 consecutive days from high temperatures and excessive solar radiation can disrupt the vine's physiology, prompting accelerated sugar accumulation in berries by 20–30%, a consequence of multiple factors including berry dehydration and high alcohol concentrations that compromise wine quality and typicity. Techniques such as late winter pruning, nanoparticle/antitranspirant application, netting (reducing solar radiation by 20–40%), training systems, and cluster thinning effectively reduce excessive fruit surface temperatures and modulate water loss, light exposure, and air circulation. Additionally, photo-selective shading can decrease berry cell death by 30–50%. Combining various methods can enhance yield and quality in hot, dry climates like the Mediterranean Basin by balancing the sink-source ratio. Adopting a holistic approach by combining traditional and modern techniques will aid viticulture in adapting to climate change. Hence, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) based sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), and machine learning algorithms enables precise vineyard monitoring for irrigation and canopy status. Canopy management practices have evolved across centuries to optimize sunlight interception, photosynthetic capacity, and cluster zone microclimate, mitigating negative climate impacts. The choice of trellising in modern times has shifted from traditional, locally adapted methods towards more productive systems supported by fertigation and fungicides in the pursuit of increased yield. We suggest a holistic, microclimate/site-driven approach that integrates varietal biodiversity, precision irrigation, and sustainable soil management, which, even if not supported by AI-driven monitoring, can improve the balance between yield, quality, and vine resilience in a changing climate.