Caratteristiche morfologiche, genotipiche, vegeto-produttive e qualitative di un clone abruzzese del vitigno Malvasia bianca lunga

The Malvasia Bianca Lunga , well known in Italy as Malvasia del Chianti from the name of the zone were it was mainly grown in the past, is also called Malvasia Bianca Pugliese and Malvasia Trevigiana: these names indicate the wide extension of its cultivation along the Italian Adriatic coasts. This grapevine variety is very vigorous and productive, gives a fine quality wines which have a light aroma and are able to improve the flavor and the body of wines based on Trebbiano. In the name of the clonal selection of Abruzzo grapevine varieties, a clone of Malvasia Bianca lunga has been selected and was registred in the National Grapevine Variety Catalogue in the 2002. In the order to collect more information about this clone, a three-year trial was carried out on vines grafted onto two rootstocks (157-11 and 779P) and grown in two areas of the Abruzzo region: Chieti and Aquila. The main morphological characters of this clone resulted those typical of the variety; some differences concerned the colour nuance of the atypical shoot and the leaf nervatures, the cluster structure and the cluster shape. The Malvasia Bianca lunga clone from Abruzzo showed a good equilibrium between vegetative and reproductive parameters. The vigor was not excessive; moreover, in the less fertile soil, the 779 P rootstock reduced the vegetative growth. The yeald was moderate, because of a medium bud fertility and a medium berry set level which, in turn, may be a cause of bunch looseness. The cluster looseness is useful to improve bunch rot resistance. In the more fertile soil, a yeald increment was noticed,mainly due to increment of bud fertility. Berry weight did not achieved 2 grams, features which is positive for the enological purpose. The berry technological parameters were quite equilibrated as well as those of the wines, which were characterized by a good phenol content and by the appreciable bouquet. No sensorial differences were found between the two growing areas. The results confirm and strengthen the interest Malvasia Bianca lunga clone found in Abruzzo, and suggest to increase its diffusion, since the cultivar is admitted in many Italian d.o.c. wine regulations.