Photoselective Device Accelerates Growth and Shortens Time-to- Production of Newly Planted Vines
Yosepha Shahak Ravid,* Larry J Bettiga, Rhonda J Smith, William L
Peacock, Nicholas Booth, Nadav Ravid, Atiako Kwame
Acheampong, and Daniel L Farkas
*Opti-Harvest Inc., 2830 S Jacob St., Visalia, CA, 93277
(yshahak@opti-harvest.com)
The growth of newly planted grapevines in cool-climate regions such as Northern and Coastal California is often encumbered by suboptimal temperatures, strong winds, frost dieback of green tissue, and other extreme environmental events. Replacement vines are additionally constrained by heavy shading from adjacent mature vines in both cool and hot climates. Here we present a novel approach based on surrounding newly-planted vines with greenhouse-like “growth chambers” specifically designed to deliver red-enriched sunlight that is uniformly scattered around individual vines, while providing protection from environmental hazards, creating a favorable microclimate environment. Studies of these devices, named Opti-Gro, were carried out during the past four years in commercial wine, table, and raisin grape vineyards on both newly planted and replanted vines, in collaboration with major growers in California’s Central Coast, Sonoma County, and San Joaquin Valley. All field trials were designed in randomized blocks with 20 to 30 replicates. Opti-Gro units were compared with the growers’ common practice vine protectors. Field installations and data collection were conducted by an independent third party. The initial device prototypes were 14-inch diameter, 7-ft tall, color-coated (red, orange, and white) metal units. The trials demonstrated dramatic acceleration of both primary and lateral shoot development, reduced winter dieback (due to enhanced lignification), and advanced fruitfulness within just one season. The red-coated units consistently outperformed the orange and white ones. We infer that the red-enriched light environment is providing regulatory signals to thrive. This, coupled with the protected microclimate, is accelerating canopy and root developmental physiological processes, leading to enhanced photosynthesis, long-term carbohydrate storage, and advanced subsequent fruiting. The advanced Opti-Gro device is a 10-inch-diameter, red polymer chamber with a specifically engineered texture to promote light dispersion and a modular design that enables integration into various trellis dimensions.
Funding Support: Opti-Harvest, Inc.
