Vineyard and fermentation studies to elucidate the origin of 1,8-cineole in Australian red wine

Preliminary investigations revealed that the proximity of Eucalyptus trees to grapevines can directly influence the concentration of the aroma compound 1,8-cineole present in the corresponding red wines. For two different vineyards, the closer the grapevines were to the trees, the greater was the amount of 1,8-cineole in the wines elaborated from those grapes. This led us to carry out further studies to quantify the levels of 1,8-cineole found in grape berries, leaves, and stems at set distances from Eucalyptus trees over multiple vintages. Generally, the highest concentration of 1,8-cineole was found in the grapevine leaves, followed by grape stems and then grapes. In each sample type, we observed greater concentrations of 1,8-cineole in samples closer to the trees. Various fermentation treatments carried out with Shiraz grapes showed that matter other than grapes (MOG, e.g., Eucalyptus or grape leaves) could contribute significant amounts of 1,8-cineole to the finished wines. These studies confirmed that vineyard position and winemaking conditions can determine the 1,8-cineole concentration in red wine. The fermentation study also showed for the first time that the concentration of rotundone in red wine can be strongly influenced by grapevine leaves and stems in the ferment.     

Tolerance to Zn deficiency and P-Zn interaction in wheat seedlings cultured in chelator-buffered solutions

Zinc deficiency is a common constraint for wheat production in the regions with limited precipitation,particularly in the regions with high levels of available phosphate (P) in soil.Two experiments were conducted using chelator-buffered nutrient solutions to characterize differences in tolerance to Zn deficiency among three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L).genotypes and to investigate the relationship between P and Zn nutrition in wheat species.Four indices,Zn efficiency,relative shoot-to-root ratio,total Zn uptake in shoot,and shoot dry weight were used to compare the tolerance to Zn deficiency among three wheat genotypes.The results indicated that the four indices could be used in breeding selection for Zn uptake-efficient genotypes.The genotype H6712 was the most tolerant to Zn deficient,followed by M19,and then X13.Specifically,H6712 had the highest Zn uptake efficiency among the three genotypes.The addition of P to the growth medium increased Zn uptake and translocation from roots to shoots.Total Zn content of the wheat plant was 43% higher with 0.6 mmol/L P treatment than that of control with 0 mmol /L P treatment.The Zn translocation ratios from roots to shoots were increased by 16% and 26% with 0.6 mmol/L P treatment and 3 mmol/L P treatment,respectively,compared with 0 mmol/L P treatment.In contrast,high Zn concentrations in the growth medium inhibited P translocation from roots to shoots,but the inhibitive effects were not strong.Sixty-six percent of P taken up by wheat plants was translocated to the wheat shoots at 0 μmol/L Zn treatment,while the percent was 60% at 3 μmol/L Zn treatment.The result may be due to the fact that the wheat plants need more P than Zn.