Vines suffer from diseases such as powdery and downy mildew and from pests such as the grape berry moth and leafhoppers, which call for ecotoxic fungicides and insecticides. UVFrio studies the physiological and biochemical mechanisms that induce resistance in the vine under UV-B and UV-C light. In April 2025 Matglow delivered the set-up for the UTAD greenhouse where the trials of the thesis «UVFRIO, UV Friend of the Vine» take place.
Objectives and activities
- Build a prototype, with optimised radiation conditions, that can be used in commercial vineyards
- Find the radiation that reduces pests and diseases without harming beneficial microorganisms
- Control pests and diseases of Vitis vinifera while keeping growth, yield and quality
Project images
Other projects
Agrifood
UVineSafe
UV-C light to trigger the vine’s defences, in the largest UV living lab in the field.
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Smart street light: sensors, antennas and charging in one piece of infrastructure.
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