Open Access
A water content continuous monitoring of grapevine xylem tissue using a portable low-power cost-effective FMCW radar
(IEEE, 2019) Quemada Mayoral, Carlos; García González, Cebrián; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Marín Ederra, Diana; Gastón Beraza, Diego; Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Maestrojuán Biurrun, Itziar; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PI025 VITHZ; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 0011-1365-2016-000084 RAFF
This paper presents the real-time monitoring of a grapevine’s water content that flows up through the xylem tissue by means of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar. The application of an optimization process, based on the super-resolution multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm, has enabled the reduction of the bandwidth required to discern the xylem water content, and thus the operating frequency, achieving a depth resolution of at least 3 mm. This design advantage has resulted in a significant step forward towards a real life application, allowing the use of fully-integrated off-the-shelf components in order to implement a completely portable low-power cost-effective radar at 23.1 GHz with a 3.4 GHz bandwidth. The sensor performance has been evaluated by means of three different experiments: irrigation cycles, day/night cycles and comparison between irrigation cycles at different temperatures. From the experimental results, it is possible to assert that the contactless sensor presented in this work is very sensitive to changes in the plant’s water content, differentiating between daytime and nighttime. In addition, it has been proved that temperature has a noticeable influence over the evapotranspiration, observing negative drying slopes of 5.62 mV/cycle and 6.28 mV/cycle at 23ºC and 26ºC respectively.
Embargo
Upgrading and validating a soil water balance model to predict stem water potential in vineyards
(Elsevier, 2024-12-15) Mirás-Ávalos, José M.; Escalona, José M.; Pérez-Álvarez, Eva Pilar; Romero Azorín, Pascual; Botia, Pablo; Navarro, Josefa; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Uriarte, David; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Buesa, Ignacio; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Efficient water management is pivotal for viticulture sustainability. Decision support tools can advise on how to optimize irrigation or on the feasibility of growing grapes in rainfed conditions, but reliable algorithms for assessing vine water status are required. In this context, the aim of the current study was to upgrade a soil water balance model specific for vineyards by incorporating meteorological, soil and vine vigor in equations that transform the fraction of transpirable soil water into midday stem water potential (Ψstem). The model's sensitivity to variations in the magnitude of input parameters was analyzed. Furthermore, the model was tested in a broad scope of Spanish vineyards with different grapevine cultivars (both red and white), rootstocks, plant age, soil and climatic conditions, and water regimes, totaling 129 scenarios. The model was only slightly sensitive to variations in the magnitude of most inputs, except for the fraction of transpirable water at which leaf stomatal conductance begin to decline. Moreover, the model satisfactorily reproduced the evolution of Ψstem over the growing season, although it slightly overestimated the measured ¿stem values, as the slopes of the fitted regression lines were lesser than 1 on most occasions, 76 out of 129. Nonetheless, the coefficients of determination for these relationships were greater than 0.9, except for 21 datasets. Mean errors averaged 0.024 ± 0.015 MPa, while root mean square errors averaged 0.27 ± 0.01 MPa. The index of agreement was greater than 0.75 in 51 datasets, with only three datasets showing an index of agreement lower than 0.5. Nevertheless, the deviations between observed and simulated Ψstem values did not alter the classification of the water stress undergone by grapevines. This upgraded model could constitute the core of a decision support system for water management in vineyards, applicable to both rainfed and irrigated conditions.
Open Access
Exploring the potential of hyperspectral imaging to detect Esca disease complex in asymptomatic grapevine leaves
(Elsevier, 2022) Pérez Roncal, Claudia; Arazuri Garín, Silvia; López Molina, Carlos; Jarén Ceballos, Carmen; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; López Maestresalas, Ainara; Ingeniaritza; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Precise and reliable identification of specific plant diseases is a challenge within precision agriculture nowadays. This is the case of esca, a complex grapevine trunk disease, that represents a major threat to modern viticulture as it is responsible for large economic losses annually. The lack of effective control strategies and the complexity of esca disease expression make essential the identification of affected plants, before symptoms become evident, for a better management of the vineyard. This study evaluated the suitability of a near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system to detect esca disease in asymptomatic grapevine leaves of Tempranillo red-berried cultivar. For this, 72 leaves from an experimental vineyard, naturally infected with esca, were collected and scanned with a lab-scale HSI system in the 900-1700 nm spectral range. Then, effective image processing and multivariate analysis techniques were merged to develop pixel-based classification models for the distinction of healthy, asymptomatic and symptomatic leaves. Automatic and interval partial least squares variable selection methods were tested to identify the most relevant wavelengths for the detection of esca-affected vines using partial least squares discriminant analysis and different pre-processing techniques. Three-class and two-class classifiers were carried out to differentiate healthy, asymptomatic and symptomatic leaf pixels, and healthy from asymptomatic pixels, respectively. Both variable selection methods performed similarly, achieving good classification rates in the range of 82.77-97.17% in validation datasets for either three-class or two-class classifiers. The latter results demonstrated the capability of hyperspectral imaging to distinguish two groups of seemingly identical leaves (healthy and asymptomatic). These findings would ease the annual monitoring of disease incidence in the vineyard and, therefore, better crop management and decision making.
Open Access
IV Jornadas del Grupo de Viticultura: comunicaciones técnicas Sociedad Española de Ciencias Hortícolas
(Sociedad Española de Ciencias Hortícolas, 2022) Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
La Sociedad Española de Ciencias Hortícolas y la Universidad Pública de Navarra organizaron las IV Jornadas del grupo de Viticultura de la SECH, celebradas en Pamplona/Iruña entre los días 26 y 28 de octubre de 2022. Las Jornadas, promovidas por el Grupo de Trabajo de Viticultura de la SECH, tuvieron como objetivo principal poner en común los trabajos realizados en los últimos años en el ámbito de la viticultura y de la investigación vitícola. Los últimos años, marcados por la crisis provocada por la pandemia del COVID-19, impidieron la realización de las Jornadas del grupo con anterioridad. Estas IV Jornadas se dedicaron a reflexionar sobre la investigación en el sector en los últimos años, su transferencia y su impacto en la sociedad. En este contexto, las Jornadas pretenden ser un encuentro abierto en el que los investigadores, docentes, técnicos, centros de investigación, sectores económicos y productivos expongan sus trabajos de investigación, de desarrollo y de aplicación tecnológica.
Open Access
Guía de buenas prácticas para la elección del material de plantación de un viñedo
(2023) García García, Rafael; Eraso Zabalegui, Javier; Villa Llop, Ana; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Crespo Martínez, Sara; Gambra, Alberto; Palacios Muruzábal, Julián; Sebastián Caumel, Bárbara; Urrestarazu Vidart, Jorge; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación
Esta es una guía gráfica sobre la elección del material vegetal para la plantación de un viñedo. Mediante vídeos sencillos se explican factores agronómicos claves a tener en cuenta antes de realizar una plantación, además de nociones básicas que se deben conocer para la elección del material vegetal. Hemos estructurado esta Guía en tres bloques, partiendo del objetivo principal que es la obtención de un viñedo equi- librado, siguiendo con la explicación de las distintas calida- des genéticas que se pueden elegir a la hora de comprar el material vegetal; y concluyendo con vídeos sobre la calidad fisiológica de la planta y cómo comprobarla. Con los últimos vídeos, más científicos, queremos explicar qué sucede a nivel celular en la zona del punto de injerto para que las conexiones vasculares se puedan generar. Los aspectos clave a destacar a la hora de la elección del material vegetal serían: • Saber medir/cuantificar las cualidades y limitaciones de la parcela. • Conocer el abanico de posibilidades en cuanto al material genético disponible. • Saber comprobar la calidad fisiológica del material vegetal. Y fundamental para realizar una plantación con éxito, es tener la máxima información posible como mínimo un año antes de realizar la plantación del viñedo.
Open Access
Agronomic evaluation of eight 41 B × 110 richter grapevine genotypes as rootstock candidates for mediterranean viticulture
(KeAi Communications, 2023) Marín Ederra, Diana; Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Abad Zamora, Francisco Javier; Urrestarazu Vidart, Jorge; Mayor Azcona, Blanca; Villa Llop, Ana; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Choosing the most appropriate rootstock(s) is a key decision for the profitability of vineyards; therefore, there must be a sufficient range of rootstocks in the market adapted to different environmental conditions and production objectives. However, rootstock-breeding programs have been scarce in recent decades, and most of the rootstocks used today were bred a century ago, when the needs of the sector were very different from today. In this work, we aimed to evaluate new rootstock candidates before their introduction in the market. An agronomic evaluation was conducted on eight novel rootstock genotypes obtained from the first generation of the cross-pollination of 41 B Millardet et de Grasset (41 B) and 110 Richter (110 R) grafted with ‘Syrah’ and ‘Tempranillo’ and planted in a typical vineyard of the Ebro Valley in Spain. During the four consecutive growing seasons (2016e2019), growth, yield and berry composition parameters at harvest were collected. A linear mixedeffects model was constructed, considering year and block as random effects. Multiple factor analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components were performed to establish clusters of genotypes with similar behaviour. The rootstock candidates showed a very wide performance range compared to their parents. The trial allowed us to identify two very promising candidates (RG8 and RG10), whose registration as commercial rootstocks is already in progress.
Open Access
Conventional and newly bred rootstock effects on the ecophysiological response of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo
(Elsevier, 2023) Buesa, Ignacio; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Tortosa, Ignacio; Marín Ederra, Diana; Villa Llop, Ana; Douthe, Cyril; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Medrano, H.; Escalona, José M.; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Achieving more environmentally sustainable vineyards, particularly regarding efficient water use, is paramount in semi-arid grape-growing regions. Rootstocks may be a possible strategy to address these challenges, but require a comprehensive evaluation of their effect on the scion, including ecophysiological traits. The objectives of this study were 1) to characterize the physiological response of Tempranillo cultivar grafted onto five commercial (1103 P, 110 R, 140Ru, 420 A, and SO4), and seven recently bred (RG2, RG3, RG4, RG6, RG7, RG8 and RG9) rootstocks and 2) to elucidate the relationships between agronomic and physiological traits conferred by grapevine rootstocks. This was carried out over three seasons (2018–2020) in a typical Mediterranean vineyard by determining water relations, leaf gas exchange, carbon isotope ratios and vegetative development and yield components. The results highlighted the different behaviour of ‘Tempranillo’ vines due to the rootstock effects on vine water status, photosynthetic performance, hydraulic conductance, vegetative growth and yield parameters. Overall, rootstocks inducing vigour and yield in the scion, such as 140Ru and RG8, showed higher leaf gas exchange rates and hydraulic conductance at the whole-plant level due to less negative water potentials, suggesting a higher water uptake and transport capacity than RG2, RG7 and RG9. The RG rootstocks showed a very wide range of ecophysiological responses, but only RG8 outperformed compared to the most widely used commercial rootstocks. Moreover, this response was modulated by the season and the block soil type, suggesting the importance of rootstock selection according to the edaphoclimatic conditions. Therefore, this study highlights the high potential of rootstocks to adapt to water scarcity by improving crop water productivity in vineyards and provides physiological insights for future studies and breeding programmes.
Open Access
Quantifying the effects of water status on grapevine vegetative growth, yield, and grape composition through a collaborative analysis
(Wiley, 2025-05-14) Contreras Uriarte, David; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Mirás-Ávalos, José M.; Buesa, Ignacio; Cancela, Javier José; Chacón, Juan Luis; Escalona, José M.; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Lampreave, Miriam; Montoro, Amelia; Rivacoba Gómez, Luis; Visconti, Fernando; Yuste, Jesús; Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
The consolidation of scientific knowledge is based on the accumulation and understanding of previous findings. Nowadays, reviews of the scientific literature have become more effective through the use of meta-analyses, which are systematic evaluations of the results from multiple studies. Similarly, mega-analyses, which combine raw data from many studies into a single sample for processing and statistical analysis, are a very powerful tool for analyzing results of heterogeneous origin but require a high level of collaboration between the researchers contributing data. In the framework of a collaborative methodology between different Spanish viticultural research groups, this work uses a mega-analytical approach to quantify the effects of changes in vine water status on vine vegetative growth, yield, and grape composition, integrating a wide range of growing conditions to obtain robust general trends of vine performance under water deficit. The mean seasonal stem water potential data from the different studies allowed a classification into five levels of water status (no deficit ⟶ mild ⟶ moderate ⟶ high ⟶ severe). A progressive decrease in vegetative growth with increasing deficit was observed, while yield decreased more markedly as water deficit progressed from moderate to high. On the other hand, titratable acidity was more sensitive to variation in water status than sugar concentration, with a greater decrease in titratable acidity when changing from no to moderate deficit. Conversely, increasing water deficit from moderate to high resulted in the greatest increases in grape anthocyanin in the red varieties explored. The results obtained in this work provide solid information on general trends in grapevine response to water deficit that can be used in simulation models or incorporated by grape growers in their decision-making processes in relation not only to irrigation management but also on other agronomic tools to impact grapevine water status.
Open Access
Sampling stratification using aerial imagery to estimate fruit load in peach tree orchards
(MDPI, 2018) Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Urrestarazu Vidart, Jorge; Loidi Erviti, Maite; Royo Díaz, José Bernardo; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
A quick and accurate sampling method for determining yield in peach orchards could lead to better crop management decisions, more accurate insurance claim adjustment, and reduced expenses for the insurance industry. Given that sample size depends exclusively on the variability of the trees on the orchard, it is necessary to have a quick and objective way of assessing this variability. The aim of this study was to use remote sensing to detect the spatial variability within peach orchards and classify trees into homogeneous zones that constitute sampling strata to decrease sample size. Five mature peach orchards with different degrees of spatial variability were used. A regular grid of trees was established on each orchard, their trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) was measured, and yield was measured as number of fruits/tree on the central tree of each one of them. Red Vegetation Index (RVI) was calculated from aerial images with 0.25 m pixel -1 resolution, and used, either alone or in combination with TCSA, to delineate sampling strata using cluster fuzzy k-means. Completely randomized (CRS) and stratified samplings were compared through 10,000 iterations, and the Minimum Sample Size required to obtain estimates of actual production for three quality levels of sampling was calculated in each case. The images allowed accurate determination of the number of trees, allowing a proper application of completely randomized sampling designs. Tree size and the canopy density estimated by means of multispectral indices are complementary parameters suitable for orchard stratification, decreasing the sample size required to determine fruit count up to 20–35% compared to completely randomized samples.
Open Access
Remote sensing for plant water content monitoring: a review
(MDPI, 2021) Quemada Mayoral, Carlos; Pérez Escudero, José Manuel; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Las redes sociales se han convertido en una de las principales fuentes de información, especialmente entre los más jóvenes. Al mismo tiempo, se ha incrementado la producción y circulación de información falsa o fake news a través de las redes. En este contexto, resulta crucial que los jóvenes adquieran estrategias y competencias para realizar una lectura crítica de la información que consumen. Este estudio busca analizar el comportamiento del alumnado de secundaria ante la información falsa y el efecto de una intervención didáctica, realizada online durante la pandemia de la covid-19, cuyo objetivo era que el alumnado desarrollara competencias para detectar noticias falsas. Se trata de una investigación participativa con un diseño de pre-test y post-test. Los resultados muestran que el alumnado incrementó su competencia para identificar algunos tipos de falsedad como la información no probada y la información tergiversada, si bien tuvo problemas para reconocer información descontextualizada o el uso de lenguaje discriminatorio. Las estrategias que más utilizó son la comprobación de datos en internet y el uso de verificadores. Se observaron comportamientos diferenciados entre el alumnado que identificó la información falsa y el que no lo hizo. Las conclusiones apuntan a la necesidad de trabajar en el aula de forma integral, extensiva y transversal la evaluación de la información partiendo de las habilidades que el alumnado ya posee.