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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #345035
Title: Soil nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium alter ß-Damascenone and other volatiles in Pinot noir berries

Author
item YUAN, FANG - Oregon State University
item Schreiner, Roger - Paul
item QIAN, MICHAEL - Oregon State University

Submitted to: American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2017
Publication Date: 4/1/2018
Citation: Yuan, F., Schreiner, R.P., Qian, M. 2018. Soil nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium alter ß-Damascenone and other volatiles in Pinot noir berries. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 69:157-166. https://doi.org/10.5344/ajev.2017.17071.

Interpretive Summary: The impact of varying levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on aroma compounds present in Pinot Noir berries was examined as part of a study to better define grapevine requirements for these nutrients. Very low nitrogen supply consistently reduced the amount of a key aroma compound in berries that is derived from the degradation of carotenoids and is known to be important in fruity and/or floral aromas in Pinot Noir wine. Nitrogen supply did not consistently alter the concentrations of other important aroma compounds in Pinot Noir berries, and varying levels of phosphorus and potassium supply had only minor impacts on any aroma compounds in berries. These findings indicate that low nitrogen status of Pinot Noir can reduce one key aroma compound in fruit and that this effect should be considered along with impacts on vine productivity for developing tissue test guidelines for managing nitrogen.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the volatile composition of grape berries in vines subjected to varying levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) supply. Pinot Noir grapevines were grown in a pot-in-pot system for three years and fertigated with varying levels of either N, P, or K supply while holding all other nutrients constant. Nitrogen was varied from 7.50 mM total N supply (Control) to as low as 1.125 mM total N in five discreet levels, while P and K supply were each varied in four levels with the lowest rate of 0 mM during fertigation events. Free and bound volatiles in berries were determined in each year. Reducing N supply to vines resulted in lower total (free + bound) ß-damascenone in berries in all three years. Low K supply also resulted in lower total ß-damascenone but not for low P supply. Low N, P and K supply had very small impact on monoterpenes and other volatile compounds.