[PhD student] Benjamin Tiffon-Terrade: Analysis and modelling of effects of dynamic shading on grapevine development and berry ripening and quality

Analysis and modelling of effects of dynamic shading on grapevine development and berry ripening and quality

I am a Cifre doctoral student, hosted by the Laboratoire d'Ecophysiologie des Plantes sous Stress Environnementaux (LEPSE) and ITK, a publisher of decision-support tools. My thesis aims to characterize and model the responses of yield and grape quality components to different types of shade. After 2 years of CPGE BCPST (1) and a degree in Biochemistry, I graduated from the Master Agroscience in Bordeaux, where I was trained in biotechnology, genetics and plant breeding.

I did my internship at the Institut des sciences de la vigne et du vin in Bordeaux, in the EGFV laboratory. This work gave me my first experience of grape quality modeling and made me more aware of the evolution of grape quality in the face of climate change. For me, protecting vines, and grape quality in particular, is a relevant issue today.
The thesis offered me the opportunity to complete my training and delve deeper into a subject that is close to my heart.

Dynamic shading modifies the vine's physiology, morphological capacities and response to its environment. So, throughout the season, I'm studying a series of physiological traits that are necessary for the development of yield and grape quality, on an annual and multiannual scale. In particular, the first part is devoted to vegetative functioning, including radiation interception and conversion, carbon allocation and reserves. The second part focuses on bunch development (yield and quality), with a link to the vegetative part.
I'm convinced that agrivoltaics has the potential to provide solutions that will protect vines and grape quality in the face of climate change (heatwaves, rising temperatures, increased water stress, etc.). Today, I want to help bring these solutions to light.

• Starting date: 15 July 2019
• University: MUSE – University of Montpellier
• PhD school: GAIA
• Scientific field: Plant ecophysiology and adaptation
• Thesis management: Thierry Simonneau, LEPSE, Inrae
• Thesis supervisors: Angélique Christophe, LEPSE, Inrae, Amélia Caffarra, ITK et  Damien Fumey, ITK
• Funding: ANRT
• #DigitAg : Labeled PhD – Axe 5: Fouille de données, analyse de données, extraction de connaissances – Challenge  6: La gestion des territoires agricoles

Keywords: Shading, Grapevine, Berry quality, Radiation interception and conversion, Transpiration, Modelling

Abstract: Dynamic agrivoltaic systems combine agricultural production with the supply of energy by mobile photovoltaic panels on the same surface. They can resolve land use conflicts and offer new ways to manage the microclimate of crops, particularly in the face of climate change. These systems appear as interesting for grapevine, often established in areas threatened by this change, but their success depends on maintaining or even improving the yield and / or the quality of the harvest. Specifically, an “intelligent” control of panels’ orientation above the crop must be designed according to how sensitive to radiation are the various processes involved in the development of the yield. Plant growth requires radiation, but excess can be detrimental. Some species acclimate in the shade and make better use of radiation. However, no data exist on the acclimation of the vine under intermittent shade such as that created by panels. The work will consist of evaluating the consequences of such shading on the physiological behavior of the vine and its production in terms of quantity and quality on an annual and multi-annual scale. A first axis will consist in analyzing and modeling the radiation use efficiency under different shading regimes and at different stages of plant development, taking into account the architectural changes of the canopy and its consequences on intercepted radiation. A second axis will be dedicated to the analysis and modeling of the grape ripening under these same conditions. A third axis will consist in coupling these 2 groups of results in a global model. The final objective is to use the model to identify the dynamic shading practices that would be the most favorable in terms of yield and / or quality in an agrivoltaic system.

Contact : benjamin.tiffon-terrade [AT] itk.fr – Tel: 07.86.42.09.36

Social network: LinkedIn 

(1)    biology, chemistry, physics and earth sciences