Grapevine systematics. Grapevine botany: morphology, anatomy and organization of vegetative organs (skeleton, crown, root system) and reproductive organs (buds, flowers, bunches). Ampelographic features, phenotypic and genetic variability. The morphological OIV descriptors.
Vegetative-productive cycle of the vine in relation to the life cycle of the plant (juvenile phase, vegetative phase, maturity phase, senescent phase) and the seasonal cycle of growth.Phenological phases of the vine and classification criteria.
Introduction to the grapevine physiology. Model of root development and factors controlling the growth of the root system. Model of development of buds and shoots: factors controlling vegetative growth. Wood maturation and implications for vineyard management. The plant's hormonal system: categories of hormones and their implication in controlling vegetative growth.
Vine floral biology. Types of sterility. Parthenocarpy and stenospermocarpy. Fruit set. Growth model of berries and growth control factors. Maturity phase: physical and biochemical changes in the berry. Maturity curves and monitoring of quality and/or harvest indices. Integrated factors determining the quality of the grapes. Maturation control in plant and post-harvest.
Source-sink relations, production and allocation of carbohydrates, relations between vegetative and reproductive activity; establishment and annual use of reserves.
Environmental control of growth and development. Definition of the concept of environmental suitability. Outline of eco-physiology and viticultural ecology. Role of light in the growth and development of the vine, photosynthetic productivity in grapevine and exogenous and endogenous control factors.
Role of temperature in the growth and development of the vine: low temperatures, high temperatures, temperature excursions, freezing temperatures. Extreme climatic events. Bioclimatic indices: types, meaning, calculation. Use of bioclimatic indices optimizing the choice of grape varieties. Genotype-environment relationship in relation to the current ampelographic framework. Viticulture and climate change. Wine-growing zoning: aims and methodologies.
The edaphic environment: plant-soil relationship. Edaphic factors limiting plant growth. The cultivar-rootstock interaction for soil adaptation.
Viticulture and safeguard of environmental resources: soil fertility, quality of the atmosphere.
Vine propagation: physiological bases of grapevine propagation and technical implications (forcing, grafting-cuttings, over grafting). Quality of propagation material: genetic and health compliance.
Physiological basis of vineyard architecture: vine development and types of plants (vertical/ horizontal; continuous /discontinuous crown; low planting density /high planting density).
Physiological bases of canopy management: physiological bases of winter pruning. Physiological bases of green pruning operations differentiated by type of intervention (topping, leaf removal, thinning, hormonal treatments, root pruning). Notes on the water and nutritional needs of the grapevine.
The vineyard as an agro-ecosystem. The systemic meaning of environmental sustainability in viticulture. The concept of multi-functionality in viticulture: the ecosystem services offered. Viticulture and biodiversity. Diversity, structure and functionality of the vineyard landscape.

Manuale di Viticoltura – di A. Palliotti, S. Poni, O.Silvestroni (2018) – New Business Media, Edagricole - ISBN 978-88-506-5533-5


In-depth text:
Viticoltura di qualità – Trattato dell’eccellenza da terroir – di M. Fregoni (2013) – Tecniche nuove Editore -
Avversità non parassitarie della vite e cambiamento climatico - di A. Palliotti, S. Poni, O. Silvestroni (2019) - Edagricole-New Business Media