Tropical Viticulture: Specificities and Challenges for a Quality Viticulture

摘要

The main challenges of tropical viticulture are the improvement of the basic knowledge on the adaptation to tropical climates and to their constraints, the experimentation of new cultivation systems, the socio-economical pressure of those regions. Theclimatic study points out five main types of viticulture: tropical dry, tropical wet, tropical alternatively dry/wet, sub-tropical alternatively dry/wet, subtropical dominantly wet. The MCC method (Multicriteria Climatic Classification) is applied to the characterization of those climates. The presentation of the growing cycle of the grapevine is made in function of the types of climates. Some problems of lack of knowledge of the grapevine biology under those climates are pointed out, in relation to bud dormancy, shoot development, apical dominance (and 'acrotonie'), carbon and reserves management in the plant. The main technical challenges for a quality tropical viticulture are: - controlling vigour which is generally excessive; - controlling microclimate and architecture; - controlling water and minerals management; - controlling harvest date; - controlling sanitary status particularly under wet (sub)tropical zone. For each challenge, a reasoning of choices is proposed, at the level of cultivationtechnics and varieties. Emphasis is put on vineyard canopy management based on new techniques which can be modulated according to the climatic constraints, foldable Lyre and modulated Vertical Shoot Positioning.