Sensors and cameras analyse vine quality
With the help of electronic sensors and cameras, winegrowers will be able to obtain information on the maturity, quality, yield prospects and disease risks of their vines at an early stage. At the Julius Kühn Institute for Vine Breeding at Geilweilerhof in Siebeldingen (district Southern wine Road), agricultural biologist Anna Kicherer is testing the "phenoliner": here, the devices of a grape harvester were replaced by optical devices and a geo-information system.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
"We see the "phenoliner" as a test platform with the long-term vision that winegrowers can also use it," explained Kicherer during a trip through the institute's vineyard. The assessment of grapes as small, large or medium can become much more objective with this image-supported technique.
In vine breeding, such information is of decisive importance in order to be able to assess the peculiarities of new varieties.
"When it comes to the development of genetic markers, phenotype and genotype must be brought together," said Kicherer, referring the external appearance to the respective genetic composition.
The "phenoliner" is just one of several examples of possible increases in efficiency through digital technologies in viticulture, says Ernst Büscher from the German Wine Institute: "Even today, only healthy grapes can be sorted out with optical systems after harvesting. In the near future, plant protection will also be possible on steep slopes with drones./pz/DP/zb (dpa)
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