Wines & Vines

GRAPEGROWING of water in the sample) and more established techniques of measuring plant water status using mid-day stem water potential to develop models for prediction of water potential based on the spectral signature of leaves only.3 Results have shown good agreement between both techniques offering a new tool for irrigation scheduling (Figure 5). Current research has undertaken the use of this technique in an automated fashion through short-range remote sensing on a vehicle. The gap analysis algorithm also has been applied for development of a smartphone and tablet application that allows obtaining images, analysis of them and sends canopy architecture and leaf area index information to be mapped (Figure 6).7 Further developments of imaging techniques use high-end security cameras attached to extendable towers that can be attached to an unmanned terrestrial vehicle (UTV) or permanently installed in a vineyard. These can be used to detect disease, growth rate and grape maturity remotely. Grape berries' living tissue assessment A novel berry tissue assessment technique discloses the link between grape berry living tissue and shrivel (Figure 7).12 This technique can be used to investigate the link between cell death and development of flavors and aromas in berries that might be favored in certain grapevine cultivars by mesocarp cell death. This technique has also been used to assess the effects of elevated temperatures at the onset and rate of berry cell death in cultivars such as Shiraz and Chardonnay.2 Figure 5. Micro-electronic modulated spectrophotometer (MEMS) used for rapid water status assessment of grapevines (Thermo Scientific). Canopy architectural assessment using cover photography The cover photography technique to measure canopy architecture parameters using gap analysis algorithms does not require expensive instrumentation, but it does offer accurate results comparable to techniques that use expensive instrumentation (AccuPAR Ceptometers, LiCOR 2000 – 2200).8 Our research at University of Melbourne has applied this technique to grapevines, and an automated video analysis method has been developed. This method allows the use of this technique with robots.9 One BirdGardSuperPRO Wireless can control birds inupto 48 acres The Bird Gard SuperPRO Controller/transmitter can broadcast distress calls up to 1000 ft in all directions. And one Controller/transmitter can control up to eight 4-Speaker Wireless Receivers. No need to buy 8 complete Bird Gard Super PROs. Each 4-Speaker Wireless Receiver protects up to 6 acres. Buy 2, 3, 4, up to eight 4-Speaker Wireless Receivers. You get not only wireless speakers, but also the distress calls randomly jump from speaker to speaker keeping the birds from getting used to the sounds. One BirdGard SuperPRO Controller/transmitter & one 4-Speaker Wireless Receiver is $799. Each additional 4-Speaker Wireless Receiver that covers up to 6 acres is $399. More and more vineyard managers are replacing netting with the Bird Gard PRO series. "Last year we got the SuperPRO Wireless. Had the starling flocks been there, we would have lost $20,000-$30,000 worth of grapes," Manager, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards BirdGard Wireless Figure 6. Upward-looking picture (left) and the CanopyLAI application developed (right). JWB Marketing LLC birddamage.com 800.555.9634 pr actica l win ery & vin eya rd AU GU ST 20 13 71

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