The University of Adelaide has developed VitiCanopy, a mobile app that helps grape growers manage their vineyards more effectively.
VitiCanopy, funded by Wine Australia and the university, provides users with a quick and simple way to measure grapevine canopy from images uploaded to the app for analysis.
Some of the recent upgrades to the app include the ability to analyse multiple images at once, GPS capability to create maps of the spatial variability of canopy size and Cloud storage.
“Grapevine canopy size is known to play a role in yield, grape quality and the potential productivity of future seasons,” University of Adelaide School of Agriculture, Food and Wine app co-developer, Dr Roberta De Bei said.
“Monitoring the differences in canopy size within vineyards is a useful way to identify problems that could be related to pests and disease, water status and nutrient status. Once grapevine canopy measurements are known, they can be compared against previous seasons to identify optimal traits for grape quality and maximum yield.”
The new features of VitiCanopy make visualising a lot of data easier, with reports produced not only as CSV files but also in map format, providing visual oversight of canopy size across the entire vineyard.
“The app has also moved into the Cloud environment, which means images are uploaded directly to the Cloud, saving on phone battery and storage,” University of Adelaide School of Agriculture, Food and Wine app co-developer, Associate Professor Cassandra Collins said.
“VitiCanopy’s upgrade also includes a user-friendly and intuitive website providing additional information on how to get the most value from the app’s analysis and reporting tools.”
The app is a strong addition to the diagnostic toolbox available to growers, according to Wine Australia general manager Research, Development and Adoption, Dr Liz Waters said.
“Measurement of grapevine canopy size is critical to assess growth, vigour and vine water requirements,” Waters said.
“VitiCanopy is a valuable tool to help monitor vineyard differences in canopy size, which can help to identify problems early so that strategies and resources can be put in place to maximise vineyard productivity and profitability.”
Visit viticanopy.com.au or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.