Jose Manuel Miras-Avalos

Spanish National Research Council | CSIC · Misión Biológica de Galicia

In recent years, pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivation is undergoing a great expansion in Spain, which is promising for regions where water and winter chilling are not limiting. Many areas of Castilla y León (Spain) provide suitable conditions for pistachio production, but heat requirement could be a limiting factor. The aims of this study were...

The current scenario of water scarcity leads to a seek for new irrigation strategies that maintain agricultural productivity while reducing the pressure on freshwater resources, especially in the Mediterranean region, which has a structural deficit of water sources. In this study, the effects of irrigation with water from different origins were ass...

We aim to develop and transfer to the wine sector a decision support system (DSS) in the frame of WANEGRAPE4.0 project that, integrated into a geographic information system, helps wine growers in i) selecting the most suitable rootstock given some agroecological conditions and oenological objectives; and ii) managing irrigation and nitrogen fertili...

Sustainability in grapevine cultivation requires the precise use of water and fertilizers, particularly nitrogen (N), to produce grapes of the highest quality for winemaking, while simultaneously avoiding harm to the surrounding waters and atmosphere by reducing NO 3 − losses and N 2 O and NH 3 emissions from the vineyards. To address the challenge...

Lindane production is very ineffective since, for each ton of lindane obtained, between 6 and 10 tons of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and other toxic compounds are produced. Due to the disposal of these residues, contaminated zones still exist, and many dumpsites are close to rivers and water reservoirs. The current study examines the conseq...

Almond plantations are expanding worldwide, specifically in Spain; the new orchards are often designed under more intensive systems in comparison to the traditional rainfed orchards frequently found in the Mediterranean Sea basin. In these new areas, water is the main limiting factor, and therefore, the present research is aimed at quantitatively a...

Almond cultivation in the Mediterranean area has undergone important changes leading to the current trend of intensification. In this scenario, low-vigor rootstocks have recently been developed, such as the ‘Rootpac®’ series, but knowledge about the rootstock’s influence on adaptation to high-density planting systems is very scarce. The objective o...

Lindane production is very ineffective since, for each ton of lindane obtained, between 6 and 10 tons of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and other toxic compounds are produced. Due to the disposal of these residues, contaminated zones still exist and many dumpsites are close to rivers and water reservoirs. The current study examines the consequ...

Sustainable agriculture has drawn attention to the maintenance and enhancement of soil health. However, research on soil quality has been carried out mainly in field crops and, to a lesser extent, in mature orchards, neglecting the relevance of assessing the soil quality status in the first years of tree plantations. Therefore, the aim of this stud...

Water is an essential resource for agriculture, accounting for 40–60% of total water consumption in Europe, mostly used for irrigation [...]

Warm and semi-arid climates are characterized by rainfall scarcity, resulting in the frequent use of low-quality water for irrigation. This work was undertaken to study the effects of water stress and saline irrigation on yield and grape composition of Monastrell grapevines grafted onto 1103P rootstock. The experiment was carried out during three c...

Clarification of the musts is carried out to remove particles that cause turbidity, oxidizable polyphenols, and eliminate excess of proteins. However, an excessive clarification of the musts can lead to the reduction of volatile compound concentrations and, as a consequence, modify the sensorial properties of the wines. Therefore, in this study, th...

The presence of weeds in the margins of strawberry crops can enhance populations of predatory mites as a measure to support conservation biological control. The aims of this study were (i) to assess the composition of the acarofauna associated with strawberries and the accompanying herbaceous plants in an organic farming system, and (ii) to evaluat...

In temperate regions where hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is cultivated traditionally, coping with water scarcity requires a sustainable use of limited resources, especially under the current climate change scenario. This water deficit can result from low precipitation and/or low soil water holding capacity, extreme temperatures (either cold or hot), low...

En el marco de una fruticultura sostenible se debe optimizar el uso de recursos, en especial el agua y los fertilizantes. En este estudio se evaluó la influencia de cuatro volúmenes de riego combinados con tres dosis de abonado nitrogenado sobre la respuesta vegeto–productiva y la calidad del fruto de melocotonero de Calanda (Aragón) durante cinco...

Understanding hydrological processes controlling stream chemistry and quantifying solute concentrations over time is crucial for estimating future alterations of water quality due to land use or climate change impacts, as well as for setting preventive or remedial actions. In the current study, soluble sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+),...

Usually, irrigation scheduling is based on a soil water balance approach that considers reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients as inputs. However, these crop coefficients come from the literature and the whole approach does not take into account field variability in canopy vigour, among other factors. The current study compared a novel...

Aim of study: Assessment of toxicity and sublethal effects of registered insecticides currently used in strawberry cultivation in Brazil on Trichogramma pretiosum Riley adults. Area of study: The study was conducted under laboratory conditions in Paraná (Brazil). Material and methods: Previously non-parasitized Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepido...

Water availability is endangering the production, quality, and economic viability of growing wine grapes worldwide. Climate change projections reveal warming and drying trends for the upcoming decades, constraining the sustainability of viticulture. In this context, a great research effort over the last years has been devoted to understanding the e...

Optimizing water use in vineyards is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of viticulture in semi-arid regions, and this may be achieved by minimizing direct water evaporation from the soil through the use of mulching. In this context, the current study aimed at assessing the combined effects of the vine-row application of an organic mulch (vine...

Viticulture is facing emerging challenges not only because of the effect of climate change on yield and composition of grapes, but also of a social demand for environmental‐friendly agricultural management. Adaptation to these challenges is essential to guarantee the sustainability of viticulture. The aim of this review is to present adaptation pos...

This study tested the possibility of improving whole-canopy water use efficiency (WUE) of grapevines (cv. Bobal) by maximizing radiation interception during the mornings and limiting this during the afternoons, when the vapour pressure deficit and the evaporative demand are higher. The three-year study consisted of two trials conducted in parallel...

The relation between water-use and intercepted solar radiation depends on many factors involved in vine canopy architecture and physiology. In addition, vine productivity is related to the efficiency with which the intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) is used, which in turn depends mainly on water availability and transport. In he...

Soil properties show a high spatio-temporal variability, affecting productivity and crop quality within a given field. In new vineyard plantations, with changes in the initial topographic profile, this variability is exacerbated due to the incorporation of soil from different origins and qualities. The aim of the current study was to characterize t...

Aroma is a crucial attribute for wine quality, particularly in white wines. Traditionally, the consumption of young white wines is recommended over the year following grape harvest due to potential aroma losses that would worsen wine quality. This study aimed to investigate the evolution of volatile compounds, odor activity value-based aroma notes,...

The European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a key pest in strawberry production. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF) and parasitoids of the Trichogrammatidae family are effective biological control agents of this pest with the potential to be used jointly for improved efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the susceptibility...

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can be viable options for biological control of agricultural pests. The selection of fungal strains is crucial for a successful pest control. The current study aimed to determine in the laboratory the susceptibility of different immature stages of Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to EPF strains (Beau...

Interannual climate variability and management practices, including fertigation, can alter volatile compound concentrations in wines from a given grapevine cultivar. These compounds are highly relevant for wine aroma. The current study aimed to assess the effect of two levels of fertigation on the volatile composition and sensory properties of wine...

According to climate change projections, increasing temperature and reduced water availability are expected in the near future. Therefore, growers must adapt their production systems, minimizing the negative effects of water scarcity, such as lower yields, and maximizing those positive, such as fruit-quality improvements. In this sense, process-bas...

En el marco de una viticultura sostenible, el correcto manejo del riego es esencial. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio es calibrar y validar un modelo de balance hídrico del suelo que predice el potencial hídrico de tallo a mediodía (Ytallo), indicador empleado para gestionar el riego. Se requieren datos del suelo, de la plantación y meteoroló...

The transformation of agro-forestry land into agricultural productive zones entails the incorporation of external lands with differentiated origins and qualities, being in the first 50-70 cm of the soil where the raw materials for plant suitable development are concentrated. The objective of this study was to analyze the variability of soil propert...

The aim of this study was to assess the spatial variability of plant vigor in a vineyard in a humid climate. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used for relating the vigor level to grapevine performance and, as a new area, with the anthocyanin and organic acid compositions of the berries. The study was performed in a rain-fed vineyar...

Water erosion is a severe threat to soil resources, especially on cultivated lands, such as vineyards, which are extremely susceptible to soil losses. In this context, management practices aiming at reducing erosion risks must be favored. This current study aimed at estimating soil losses in two vineyards under Atlantic climatic conditions (Galicia...

Los aminoácidos constituyen un recurso para el metabolismo de las levaduras y, por tanto, son de gran relevancia para el aroma del vino. Sus concentraciones en el mosto dependen en gran medida de la variedad de uva. En este trabajo se ha caracterizado, por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución, el perfil de aminoácidos de tres variedades blancas...

Amino acids play a relevant role in wine quality and can allow for classifying wines according to the variety. In this work, the amino acid contents of Albariño, Godello, and Treixadura wines, three autochthonous varieties from Galicia (NW Spain), were determined. During three consecutive vintages, these varieties were grown on the same vineyard an...

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) yield depends greatly on weather conditions, particularly on rainfall, thus varying from year to year. In this sense, irrigation management is an essential tool for maintaining hop yields at an adequate level. However, hop water demands must be accurately estimated in order to develop an efficient irrigation strategy. The c...

Water conservation is paramount for the long-term sustainability of agroecosystems, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In the case of woody crops, it is a serious concern due to the large extension of these crops in different climatic conditions and the high inputs required for growing them. Indeed, the optimization of water management is cr...

Climate change will intensify water scarcity, and therefore irrigation must be adapted to save water. Operational tools that provide watering recommendations to end-users are needed. This work presents a new tool, Irrigation-Advisor (IA), which is based on weather forecasts and is able to separately determine soil evaporation and crop transpiration...

Volatile composition plays a fundamental role in wine aroma and quality. However, the concentrations of volatiles depend on climate conditions and agricultural practices, such as irrigation. The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of irrigation on the volatile composition and sensory characteristics of wines from Vitis vinifera (L.)...

The grape quality is affected by the canopy manipulation. Water management is a fundamental tool for controlling reproductive growth and grape quality. Moreover, the overall effect of irrigation might produce changes according to other cultural practices, particularly those associated with leaf removal. The present study aimed to determine the effe...

Agronomic practices can alter plant susceptibility to diseases and represent a promising alternative to the use of pesticides. Yet, they also alter crop quality and quantity so that the evaluation of their efficacy is not straightforward. Here we couple a compartmental epidemiological model for brown rot diffusion in fruit orchards with a fruit-tre...

This document intends to be a presentation of the Special Issue "Water Management Using Drones and Satellites in Agriculture". The objective of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of recent advances in the methodology of using remote sensing techniques for managing water in agricultural systems. Its eight peer-reviewed articles focus on th...

The concentrations of amino acids and volatile compounds of a given grapevine cultivar may be modified by climate variability between years and by management practices, such as irrigation, that may alter the typicality of its wines. The current study aimed at assessing the amino acid profile of musts and wines, volatile composition and sensory prof...

Small berries are considered to produce the best red wines as berry size determines the skin to pulp ratio and may affect wine composition. However, contrasting results have been reported about this postulate. In this context, the aim of this work was to assess the influence of berry size on grape compositional attributes in 'Tempranillo' grapevine...

This work includes the application manual of the toolbox developed in Ramírez-Cuesta et al. (2019), for Sentinel 2A/B and Landsat 7/8 satellite imagery

Advances in information and communication technologies facilitate the application of complex models for optimizing agricultural water management. This paper presents an easy-to-use tool for determining crop water demands using the dual crop coefficient approach and remote sensing imagery. The model was developed using Python as a programming langua...

Aim: In grapevines, similarly to many woody crops, berry set is a crucial determinant for vine productivity. We reduced vine carbohydrate supply through shading and preventing phloem flow by girdling to investigate the effects on fruit set and berry weight, in field-grown ‘Concord’ (Vitis labruscana L.) and ‘Riesling’ (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines...

Adopting cover crops for vineyard soil management can provide several benefits, including soil protection, reductions in vine vigor, and enhancements in berry composition. However, the effects of this practice on wine aroma have seldom been addressed. This study aimed to determine the influence of different cover crops and soil tillage on the must...

La erosión del suelo es uno de los principales problemas de las zonas cultivadas. Existen numerosas metodologías para la estimación de la erosión, entre las que destacan la Ecuación Universal de Pérdida de Suelo (USLE) y su versión revisada (RUSLE) como las más ampliamente utilizadas. Dichas ecuaciones descomponen el proceso de erosión del suelo en...

Nos complace daros la bienvenida a la Universidad de A Coruña (UDC) y a esta ciudad, con motivo de la octava edición del Congreso sobre Uso y Manejo del Suelo (UMS 2018), que se celebra entre el 25 y el 27 de junio en la Facultad de Ciencias de la UDC. Esta edición está organizada por el grupo de investigación “Agua y Suelo” (Aquaterra), que forma...

Concentrations of amino acids and volatile compounds of a given grapevine cultivar might be altered by inter-annual climate variability and management practices such as irrigation. These compounds determine, in part, aroma and sensory characteristics of wines. The current study aimed at assessing the amino acid profile of musts and wines and the vo...

In the case of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), leaf blade and petioles at different sampling times are used for nutritional diagnosis and planning fertilization practices. However, reference values for each nutrient depend on the scion‐rootstock combination. In this sense, the current study aimed at determining the reliability of leaf blade and peti...

Palabras clave: hexacóptero, reflectancia espectral, compuestos C6, viñedo En el presente trabajo se pretende establecer una metodología de identificación de la composición aromática en la uva Mencía, en las fechas previas a la vendimia, empleando una cámara multiespectral embarcada en un hexacóptero, con la que determinar reflectancias en diferent...

El desarrollo y aplicación de modelos que simulen de forma diferenciada los procesos de evaporación y transpiración pueden ofrecer estimaciones más precisas de las necesidades hídricas de los cultivos y, con ello, adaptarse a condiciones locales de manejo. Este estudio presenta un algoritmo denominado “Riego-Asesor” (RA) que determina la evaporació...

El avance tecnológico que ha tenido lugar en las últimas décadas ha propiciado el desarrollo de modelos complejos, difícilmente utilizables por usuarios poco especializados. En este trabajo se presenta un modelo sencillo para la determinación de las demandas hídricas de los cultivos basado en el coeficiente de cultivo dual. Dicho modelo utiliza imá...

Climate change projections predict warmer and drier conditions. In general, moderate to severe water stress reduce plant vegetative growth and leaf photosynthesis. However, vegetative and reproductive growths show different sensitivities to water deficit. In fruit trees, water restrictions may have serious implications not only on tree growth and y...

Soil texture influences many physical and chemical properties that affect fertility and productivity. Assessing the spatial distribution of soil texture is necessary to implement management practices that avoid soil degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of soil's apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), as measured...

The current study aimed to establish which meteorological conditions have the strongest impact on grapevine yield, sanitary status and berry composition, as well as checking their relative importance in relation to management practices and grapevine variety. Weather data was correlated to yield, sanitary status and grape composition of three variet...