![[Photo: Dr Marisa Collins]](images/mcollins.jpg)
About us
Viticultural research based at the University of Melbourne has been progressing at a rapid rate since Professor Snow Barlow and PhD student Marisa Collins began looking at the physiological responses of field-grown Shiraz grapevines to partial root zone drying and deficit irrigation in 2001. Marisa has now successfully completed her PhD along with Leanne Webb who was studying the impact of greenhouse gas-induced climate change on the Australian wine industry.
Since 2001 VitUM has steadily expanded to a group of 15 students and researchers examining a variety of Viticultural related topics including climate change, water, soil variability, inflorescence morphology and frost management. The group has an impressive range of research capabilities and expertise in wireless networks, thermal imaging, laboratory based analytical testing, spatial modelling and global scale mapping just to name a few.
VitUM aims to use its acknowledged expertise in viticulture, plant physiology, spatial mapping and variation, to address both blue sky and applied research questions. The group aims to address issues such as the efficiency, productivity and market credentials of the viticultural industry both in Victoria, nationally and internationally.
The continued development of intensive viticulture in Australia is a major source of regional wealth and employment. The industry faces challenges associated with:
- Market Competition (national and global)
- Diminishing resources and increased input costs (cost-price squeeze)
- Environmental credentials
- Risk management to production (climate change, water and disease)
The continued delivery of high yielding, high quality products, with a minimal environmental footprint, relies on a better understanding of plant/soil/water interactions in the vineyard.
The satisfaction of productivity and market requirements depends on the development and commercial adoption of high quality information relating to:
- Genotype-environment interactions.
- Source-sink relationships (balance between fruit load, yield and quality).
- Soil-water processes (water application must be geared to the satisfaction of crop requirements with minimal off-site effects).
- Root growth, water and nutrient uptake
The ultimate formulation and adoption of productive management systems in viticulture must minimally account for soil, plant and environmental limitations.