RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rapid Determination of Bud and Leaf Water Content Using Hyperspectral Sensors to Monitor Cold Hardiness in Grapevine
JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
JO Am J Enol Vitic.
FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture
SP 0760027
DO 10.5344/ajev.2025.25019
VO 76
IS 2
A1 Weerarathne, Visna
A1 Paudel, Asmita
A1 Sehgal, Akanksha
A1 Tegtmeier, Richard
A1 Ikeogu, Ugochukwu
A1 Ahn, Ezekiel
A1 Cadle-Davidson, Lance
A1 Kirubakaran, Silvas
YR 2025
UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/76/2/0760027.abstract
AB Background and goals Cold hardiness in dormant grapevine buds depends on water dynamics during winter. Understanding winter bud responses and their effects on summer leaf physiology is critical for developing cultivars adapted to harsh winters, while maintaining productivity. Semi-automated differential thermal analysis (DTA) is widely used to determine cold hardiness. In this study, we evaluated DTA alongside high-throughput sensor technologies (including hyperspectral and multispectral sensing) to assess their potential for cold-hardiness evaluation. The objective was to explore visible and infrared hyperspectral sensing as proxy traits to assess bud and leaf water content in grapevine.Methods and key findings Over three years, bud cold hardiness (measured for two years, 2023 and 2024) and summer physiology (data collected in 2024 and 2025) were evaluated across 86 F1 progenies from a cross between Vitis hybrid NY84.0101.03 and Vitis amurensis PI 588634. Bud absorbance analysis identified consistent predictive bands at 1874, 1875, and 1888 nm across varying winter severities. Summer leaf reflectance at 1868 and 1873 nm showed strong correlations with winter bud hardiness. Among physiological traits, all but preveraison leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit and chlorophyll fluorescence at veraison correlated positively with cluster and berry size. Stomatal conductance emerged as a key trait, showing both positive and negative associations with DTA values, depending on winter severity in 2023 and 2024.Conclusions and significance Bud absorbance, which is related to water content, can serve as a reliable proxy for bud cold hardiness, traditionally measured by DTA. In contrast, hyperspectral measurement of the anthocyanin reflectance index in leaf tissues may be used as a selection trait during summer. Twelve progenies were identified as stable performers, offering valuable material for pre-breeding efforts to combine cold tolerance with vine productivity.