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According to inventor Christine Roynette, a new technology from France should help to make vines more robust. The system, called Boxilumix, uses LED lamps to generate light signals of different wavelengths. According to Roynette, who uses her knowledge of optoelectronics and photobiology in her start-up Asclepios, this helps the vines treated in this way to activate their natural defence mechanisms. This should make vines more resistant to frost and pathogens such as mildew.
During the "Pepper your wine" project, Roynette manually illuminated vines for two vintages. Over a period of several weeks, these exhibited increased levels of the pepper flavouring substance rotundone and the antioxidant reservatrol. Roynette also reports that she noticed accelerated growth and mycorrhisation of the treated roots in avocados grown in glass containers. She was also able to extend the shelf life of carrots in the refrigerator from four to 28 days with 30 seconds of treatment on the day of harvest. This could put a stop to food waste.
The Boxilumix system is lightweight and compact and can be adapted to many machines such as tractors or self-propelled robots or permanently installed in the vineyard. The start-up Asclepios offers it for purchase or hire. According to the manufacturer, amortisation in fruit growing is around six years; this has not yet been calculated for viticulture. Christine Roynette emphasises that Boxilumix enables major savings to be made on nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides while consuming very little energy.
(al / Source: vitisphere)