Modern canopy management practices and irrigation strategies have improved the economic and environmental sustainability of Australia ' s wine industry, in terms of increased production and improved wine quality for minimal production cost and environmental impact. This study tested the hypothesis that partial rootzone drying ( PRD ) integrated with low input, minimal pruning practices can improve sustainability of winegrape production in warm - climate, irrigated vineyards. The bi - factorial experiment investigated three conventional pruning practices; hand spur pruning ( SPUR ), mechanical hedging ( MECH ) and minimal pruning ( MIN ) integrated with standard drip ( SD ) and PRD irrigation strategies. The sustainability of winegrape production of field - grown cv. Shiraz grapevines was determined by examining yield, fruit composition, wine composition and quality, vine physiology and susceptibility of bunches to Botrytis bunch rot. Winegrape production was strongly influenced by pruning level and the resultant bunch number per vine. Increased node retention at pruning of minimal pruned vines resulted in 4 - fold more bunches per vine than spur pruned vines. Mechanical hedged vines had an intermediate number of bunches per vine. Yield generally reflected the trend in bunch number per vine. However, minimally pruned and mechanically hedged vines compensated for greater carbohydrate partitioning between reproductive sinks by producing smaller bunches with fewer berries per bunch. Partial drying of the grapevine rootzone had a detrimental effect on yield relative to SD irrigation ( 18 % ). The additive effect of SD combined with light pruning treatments resulted in few statistically significant interactions for the measured yield components. Berry weight was the only parameter influenced by the interaction between irrigation and pruning during the three experimental seasons ; PRD + MIN reduced berry weight by 36 % compared to SD + SPUR, in response to lower irrigation inputs and higher bunch number. A 2 - fold increase in water use efficiency ( tonnes per megalitre ) was found by the reduced irrigation inputs of PRD combined with the high crop levels of MIN vines compared to SD + SPUR vines. Fruit and wine composition was also largely unaffected by combined irrigation and pruning treatments, as a result of the additive effect of PRD and MIN. However, light pruning levels ( MIN and MECH ) and their associated small berry size and high bunch exposure, reduced pH and increased titratable acidity, and anthocyanin and phenolic concentrations of berry juice compared to SPUR. Minor pruning level effects on wine composition can be directly correlated with those observed on fruit composition. PRD had minimal effect on basic fruit composition but strong effects on wine spectral parameters : density, hue, total anthocyanin and phenolic concentration and ionised anthocyanin concentration, possibly as a result of co - pigmentation of anthocyanin compounds with exocarp tannins. Berry size was strongly correlated with fruit and wine quality. Small berries ( i.e. from PRD and MIN ) had lower pH and higher anthocyanin and phenolic concentrations in the juice and produced wine that was more acidic, brighter and had higher colour density and anthocyanin ( total and ionised ) and phenolic concentrations than all other treatments. Midday and diurnal leaf gas exchange were manipulated by partially drying the rootzone. PRD reduced midday stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration compared to SD. Stomatal limitation on photosynthesis and transpiration was probable, given the strong positive relationship with stomatal conductance and reduced carbon isotope discrimination by PRD. Transpiration efficiency was improved for PRD irrigated vines compared to SD irrigated vines. Leaf water potential and osmotic potential were measured diurnally, in conjunction with leaf gas exchange to investigate the response of PRD irrigated vines to increasing vapour pressure deficit. Diurnally, stomatal conductance was reduced by PRD compared to SD, which maintained leaf water potential, while no osmotic adjustment occurred. Therefore, PRD irrigation maintained hydraulic water status by hydrating half of the rootzone, whilst dehydration of the other half of the rootzone resulted in the partial closure of stomata. Pruning treatment effects on vine physiology were less pronounced. Minor gas exchange effects showed that pruning level influenced carboxylation efficiency and not stomatal limitations, as photosynthesis was not directly correlated with stomatal conductance. Bunches were least resistant to infection by Botrytis when fully developed and at maximum maturity. The development of bunches into tighter clusters as berry size increased from veraison to harvest and the increase in sugar content may have encouraged development of Botrytis. The distinct bunch architecture resulting from the combined pruning and irrigation treatments influenced the incidence and severity of Botrytis bunch rot. Light pruning combined with PRD irrigation produced small, loose bunches in season 2001 - 02, which were less susceptible to Botrytis bunch rot development compared to the large, compact bunches produced on SD + SPUR vines. However, low bunch numbers and high fruit - set on MIN and MECH vines in season 2002 - 03 led to a significant change in bunch architecture. As a consequence of the increased compactness of bunches in season 2002 - 03, no pruning effects on Botrytis development were observed. Long term economic and environmental sustainability of winegrape production is dependent on continual improvement in fruit and wine quality, preservation of yield, reduced water and chemical usage. This study has shown partial drying of the rootzone combined with light pruning techniques improved yield, fruit and wine composition, water use efficiency and transpiration efficiency and reduced the incidence and severity of Botrytis bunch rot compared to SD and severe pruning levels. Therefore, over the three experimental seasons, PRD combined with minimal pruning was determined as the preferred strategy to enhance the sustainability of winegrape production of Shiraz cv. in warm - climate, irrigated vineyards. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Agriculture and Wine, 2004.

Thesis (MBus) -- University of South Australia, 1994

Thesis (M.C.M.)--Lincoln University, 2009. / Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Nov. 2, 2009). Thesis advisor: Rachel Chen. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2009. / Title from title screen (viewed December 9, 2009) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of History, Faculty of Arts. Degree awarded 2009; thesis submitted 2008. Includes bibliographical references and appendices. Also available in print form.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kentucky, 2007. / Title from document title page (viewed on August 7, 2007). Document formatted into pages; contains: vii, 87 p. : ill. (some col.), map. Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-85).

Thesis (M.S. in horticulture)--Washington State University, May 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-88).

M.A. / This thesis summarises research into the feasibility and subsequent implementation of a subscription based online and electronic information resource centre for the South African wine and brandy industry. A business case was compiled and accepted by key decision makers in the industry. The information resource centre was established under a recognised industry body to ensure equal access to all the role-players in the industry. The benefits of a centralised industry information resource centre have been demonstrated to result in: ► Reduced information acquisition cost ► No unnecessary duplication of high cost items, such as market analysis reports ► Improved and accelerated dissemination of information within the local industry through the use of a full electronic distribution strategy ► A point of contact for information for all role-players in the local industry and not just those organisations or institutions which have large research and marketing budgets ► A consistent and a unified database of local and international holdings within the local industry.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The importance of waste management is growing rapidly for several reasons. These reasons include the escalating cost of wastewater treatment and cleaning chemicals, an emerging trend of onerous regulatory regime regarding e uent disposal from governments, rising public awareness on the adverse e ects of industrial waste as well as drastic reduc- tion in water resources in the winegrowing regions. In addition, owing to the large energy demand for refrigeration purposes for high quality wine production and rapidly increasing energy costs, the challenges of energy management in the wine industry were also inves- tigated. In order to address these challenges adequately, the solutions were derived via the integration of two disciplines: environmental science (waste and energy management) and computer science (applications of arti cial intelligence). Therefore, the ndings re- ported from this study seek to advance knowledge through the construction of decision support systems for waste and energy management in circumstances where conventional mathematical formalisms are inadequate. In that sense, the dissertation constitutes in- terdisciplinary research on the application of integrated arti cial intelligence technologies (expert systems and fuzzy logic) in designing and developing decision tools for waste and energy management in the wine industry. The dissertation rst presents the domain of interest, where the scope and breadth of the problems it addresses are clearly de ned. Critical examination of the domain data- bases revealed that data, information, and knowledge for waste and energy management in the wine industry are generally incomplete and lack structure overall. Owing to these characteristics, a hybrid system approach was proposed for the development of decision support systems based on fuzzy logic. The integrated decision support systems were de- veloped based on an object-oriented architecture. This approach facilitated the exible design required for waste and energy management-related complex problem-solving. To illustrate the applicability of the o -line decision tools developed, several case stud- ies mirroring on actual industrial practices were considered. These systems were found to be robust and yielded results that were in accordance with actual industrial practices inthe wine industry. Furthermore, they provided intelligent suggestions in scenarios where there was minimal information, and under certain instances they o ered feasible sugges- tions in circumstances where a human novice could have problems in making the right decisions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belangrikheid van afvalbestuur neem om verskeie redes vinnig toe. Die redes sluit in die eskalerende koste van afvalwaterbehandeling en skoonmaakmiddels, streng regula- toriese vereistes van regeringskant met betrekking tot die verwydering van uitvloeisels, toenemende openbare bewustheid van die nadelinge e ekte van nywerheidsafval, sowel as die drastiese afname in waterbronne in wynproduserende omgewings. Daarby, a.g.v. die groot energieverbruik wat deur die verkoeling van hokwaliteitwyn vereis word en die snelgroeiende energiekoste, is die uitdagings van energiebestuur in die wynbedryf ook on- dersoek. Ten einde die uitdagings die hoof te kon bied, is oplossings gevind deur die integrasie van twee disciplines: omgewingswetenskap (afval- en energiebestuur) en rekenaarweten- skap (toepassings van kunsmatige intelligensie). Gevolglik is daar deur die bevindinge van die studie gepoog om kennis te bevorder deur die konstruksie van besluitnemingson- dersteuningstelsels vir afval- en energiebestuur onder omstandighede waar konvensionele wiskundige algoritmes ontoereikend sou wees. In die opsig verteenwoordig die proefskrif interdissiplinre navorsing in die toepassing van gentegreerde kunsmatige intelligensieteg- nologie (kundige stelsels en wasige logika) in die ontwerp en ontwikkeling van besluitne- mingshulpmiddels vir afval- en energiebestuur in die wynindustrie. Die proefskrif baken eers die probleemgebied af, waarna die bestek en omvang van die probleme waarop die werk gemik is duidelik gede nieer word. Kritiese ondersoek van die databasisse in die domein het getoon dat die data, informasie en kennis oor afval- en energiebestuur in die wynbedryf in die algemeen onvolledig en gebrekkig gestruktureer is. A.g.v. di eienskappe, is 'n hibriede stelselbeandering voorgestel vir die ontwikkeling van besluitnemingstelsels gegrond op wasige logika. Die gentegreerde besluitnemingsonders- teuningstelsels is ontwikkel op 'n objek-georinteerde argitektuur. Die benadering het die daarstelling van 'n buigsame ontwerp wat benodig word vir komplekse probleemoplossing in afval- en energiebestuur vergemaklik. Om die toepaslikheid van die a ynige besluitnemingshulpmiddels wat ontwerp is, te illustreer, is verskeie gevallestudies wat werklike industrile praktyk uitbeeld beskou. Diestelsels was robuust en het resultate gelewer wat in ooreenstemming was met werklike industrile praktyke in die wynnywerheid. Die kundige stelsels het verder intelligente voorstelle gemaak in scenarios waar daar minimale informasie beskikbaar was, en onder sekere omstandighede het hulle realistiese oplossings voorgestel waar 'n onkundige persoon probleme sou gehad he tom die regte besluite te kon neem.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This mini-study project was undertaken to investigate the dynamics of the international wine industry in an era of increased globalisation. The capacity of old and new wine producing countries to adapt to the new dynamics was assessed by determining their competitive positions in the global industry. The impact of industry driving forces on trends and future developments was determined and predictions were made for the immediate future of the industry. The cyclical nature of the global wine industry was investigated and the industry's ability to balance supply and demand in the foreseeable future was assessed. Recommendations were finally made on how to establish greater stability in the global wine industry. Wine consumption in traditional wine countries decreased as a result of changing life styles, and prompted the wine industry to focus increasingly on importing countries. Transformation within the wine industry is assisted by the innovative and aggressive marketing strategies of new wine countries. Product differentiation, brand building and the development of a more effective distribution channel are allowing new wine countries to increase market share at the expense of old wine countries. The global wine industry experiences cyclical instability in supply and demand. Evidence suggests that a cycle is completed every eight years. A threatening oversupply of quality white wine will result in increased competition and lower prices, while red wine supply is likely to exceed demand from 2003 onwards. The wine industry needs to introduce some measure of control to co-ordinate expansion and replacement programs of vineyards with an increased quality focus. Producers and wineries will have to be far more sensitive to changing consumer attitudes and life styles and should develop appropriate production strategies in order to meet changing demands. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werkstuk is onderneem om die veranderende dinamika binne die internasionale wynindustrie te ondersoek teen 'n agtergrond van toenemende globalisering. Die vermoë van oud en nuwe wêreld produksielande om aan te pas by veranderinge is beoordeel deur die bepaling van hul onderskeie mededingende posisies in die globale wynindustrie. Die impak van industrie-dryfkragte op tendense en toekomstige verwikkelinge is ondersoek en voorspellings is gemaak vir die onmiddellike toekoms van die industrie. Die sikliese aard van die globale wynbedryf is ondersoek, sowel as die vermoë van die bedryf om vraag en aanbod in die afsienbare toekoms te stabiliseer. Ter afsluiting word aanbevelings gemaak ten einde groter stabiliteit in die bedryf te bewerkstellig. Leefstyl veranderinge en 'n gepaardgaande daling in wynverbruik in tradisionele wynlande, veroorsaak dat die internasionale wynindustrie sy aandag toenemend op invoerlande vestig. Vernuwing in die bedryf word aangevuur deur die kragtige bemarkingsaanslag van nuwe wêreldlande. Deur differensiasie van hul produkte, handelsmerkontwikkeling en die uitbou van 'n meer effektiewe distribusiekanaal, slaag nuwe wynlande reeds daarin om hul internasionale markaandeel uit te bou ten koste van ou wynlande. Die globale wynbedryf ervaar sikliese onstabiliteit in vraag en aanbod en bewyse is gevind dat die siklus elke agt jaar voltooi word. 'n Dreigende ooraanbod van hoë kwaliteit witwyn sal lei tot strawwer mededinging en laer wynpryse. Die rooiwynaanbod sal moontlik teen 2003 die vraag oorskry. 'n Mate van beheer word onder meer vir die industrie voorgestel om te verseker dat uitbreiding en vervanging van wingerde beheersd en kwaliteitgerig sal geskied. Groter bewustheid van moontlike verandering van verbruikersvoorkeure en daadwerklike aksie is krities belangrik, ten einde 'n herhaling van die afgelope dertig jaar se negatiewe groei tendens te voorkom.