News from Cornell's Viticulture and Enology Program
Issue 10, May 2012
RESEARCH FOCUS
Small But Mighty: 'Pixie' Grapevine Speeds up the Pace of Grape Genetics Research and Breeding. (pdf)
USDA Grape Genetics Research Unit scientist Peter Cousins describes a dwarf, continuously flowering and fruiting grapevine that is a new tool for speeding up grape breeding and reducing costs associated with genetic studies.
FACULTY FOCUS
5 Questions for Jodi Creasap Gee
Jodi Creasap Gee focuses on vineyard floor management, vine nutrition in Concords, and crop estimation in hybrid varieties as extension associate with the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, a joint program of Cornell and Penn State.
INDUSTRY FOCUS
Long Island Establishes Sustainability Certification Program
Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing, Inc., an industry-led group, sets up the East's first certification and labeling program.
EXTENSION FOCUS
Economic Impact of 2012 Frost and Freeze Events in the Lake Erie Region
Lake Erie Regional Grape Extension Program projects a potential $13M impact of spring freeze events on Concord and Niagara production in grape belt.
STUDENT FOCUS
Flambé: More than a flash in the pan?
VIEN senior Christine Hansen presents research on flambé in student research session at American Chemical Society meetings in San Diego.
GRAPES 101
Bud Fruitfulness and Yield
Bud fruitfulness is determined early in bud formation, starting around bloom and continuing through about 30 days after bloom during the previous growing season. Shaded buds are less fruitful than buds from canes exposed to sunlight.
IN THE NEWS
- Researchers aim to help Northern vineyards, winemakers improve quality with new grape
Associated Press correspondent Dirk Lammers, based in South Dakota, featured the Northern Grapes Project in a March 29 feature article picked up by several media outlets.
BRIEFS
- Radio Vino: Join Us at the PressPad
Join extension viticulturist Hans Walter-Peterson and enologist Chris Gerling for a new podcast featuring discussions and interviews with university and industry experts about grape growing and winemaking concepts. Downloadable to your smart phone, mp3 player or iPod over the internet and iTunes store. Suitable for tractor or tank room.
RESEARCH IN PLAIN ENGLISH
- Economic impact of grapevine leafroll disease on Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet franc in Finger Lakes Vineyards of New York (pdf)
Leafroll disease, prevalent in the Finger Lakes and worldwide, reduces yield and delays ripening. This economic impact study suggests that growers can realize benefits of $10-17,000 per acre over the 25 year life of the vineyard by planting virus-tested vines and replacing vines with leafroll symptoms. - A Computational Approach for Balancing Competing Objectives in Winegrape Production (pdf)
How can growers optimize multiple vineyard practices? A new computer model can identify the best solutions to complex tradeoffs in vineyard management. - Modeling Impacts of Viticultural and Environmental Factors on 3-Isobutyl-2-Methoxypyrazine in Cabernet franc Grapes (pdf)
What factors in the vineyard affect the concentration of green pepper aromas in wine? This analysis crunches numbers from across New York State to identify the culprits.