Vila Real, Portugal, Aug. 26, 2024 (Lusa) - The ‘UVineSafe’ project in Portugal's Douro wine producing region, proposes to combat vineyard pests and diseases using a prototype with ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation, which stimulates the vines' natural defences, and wants to reduce the use of chemicals, it was announced on Monday.
‘We want to stimulate the vines’ natural defences and, to do this, we're going to select the best UV-C radiation dose-frequency combination, without causing side effects, while ensuring the quality of the grapes,' said Lia-Tânia Dinis, leader of the project and a researcher at the Centre for Research and Agro-Environmental and Biological Technologies (CITAB) at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), in a statement.
The study, which is due to start at the beginning of next year, will focus on a plot of vines belonging to the Casa de Mateus Foundation in Vila Real.
‘The pest that this study will focus on is the grape moth, one of the most worrying for winegrowers. However, there are other pests that also affect vineyards, such as the vine mite, the green leafhopper, phylloxera and the mealybug,' explained Lia-Tânia Dinis.
She emphasised that ‘each of these pests can cause significant damage to production, compromising the quality and quantity of the grapes’.
The grape moth is considered to be one of the main pests of the vineyards of the Douro Demarcated Region (‘RDD’) because it can cause a drop in production and boost the development of grey rot.
In the field, the CITAB team will have the help of a prototype that will travel along the ditches. This equipment takes the form of a tunnel, coated with UV-C lamps, and is currently being optimised and developed by the project's partner companies, Castros and Matglow.
‘Compared to UV-B radiation, UV-C lamps have a shorter wavelength and require less application time to achieve the same effect. In the case of vines, we're talking about just a few seconds of exposure,’ said the project leader.
The researcher explained to the Lusa news agency that there are already studies on the use of ultraviolet radiation with a germicidal effect, including for disinfecting surfaces or wineries.
‘And if it has a disinfectant effect in wineries, why not try to use it to disinfect vines?’ she emphasised.
This, she added, is a ‘preventative measure’, as the aim is for the ‘UV-C rays to stimulate the defences and give the plant more resistance’.
The researcher emphasised that one of the main objectives is to reduce the use of chemicals, in line with European Union guidelines, and pointed to the rising price of products and the increasing resistance of micro-organisms to phytopharmaceuticals.
At the same time, the aim is to reduce the number of applications and soil compaction and increase biodiversity.
The UV-C radiation will be applied at the end of the day and, initially, the tests will be carried out on the sauvignon variety, as it is a very commercial variety and susceptible to disease.
During the study, different parameters will be analysed, namely different dosages and application methods.
As part of the project, there will be continuous collection of climate data and forecasts of the ideal conditions for the development of pests and diseases, which will allow ‘the application of UV-C radiation at key moments that maximise its effectiveness’.
According to the press release, in recent years and due to the effects of climate change, the incidence of pests and diseases in vineyards has increased.
Also contributing to this increase are the intensification of vine cultivation and globalisation, which facilitates the entry of new pests from other regions.
Funded to the tune of €250,000 by Banco Português de Investimento (BPI) - "La Caixa" Foundation, "UVineSafe" runs until 2028 and also brings together CITAB and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP).
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