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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The cerambycid insect Xylotrechus arvicola is considered a pest that affects the wood of the grapevine
(Vitis vinifera) in the major wine areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The larva of this insect perforates the grapevine
wood, resulting in structural and biomechanical failure of the vine plants. Vine samples from wood
damaged by X. arvicola larvae were picked up from different vineyards and grape varieties. Compressive and
flexural tests were performed in order to assess the mechanical behaviour of the wood samples. Total length
of the cracks in wood samples (TLCWS) that appeared on the surface of the grapevine wood samples after
the mechanical tests was measured. Compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) decreased with the
increase of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of both branches and trunks, regardless of damage condition or
water content. Moreover, the resistance was lower in damaged wood. In addition, this was verified through the
linear regression coefficients of the interaction CS x CSA and FS x CSA. TLCWS in branches and trunks of damaged samples was greater that in undamaged samples. Also, TLCWS within the same damage condition
and part of the plant was higher in dry samples than in fresh samples. The damaged wood would show a higher
vulnerability to common mechanical stress suffered by the grapevines in the field including heavy winds, fruit
overweight or harvesting machines shaking (when mechanically collected). Larvae of this insect altered the
mechanical behaviour of the trunk and branches of grapevine wood. The mechanical strength of wood was
more negatively affected when the CSA of the branches and trunks increased. Longer TLCWS was found in
affected wood.
Description
Keywords
Crack length Compressive strength Diameter Flexural strength Larvae borer Vineyard
Citation
Rodríguez-González, Álvaro; Casquero, Pedro Antonio; Pereira, J.A.; González-López, Óscar; Guerra, Marcos; García-González, Julia; Pozo, Julia M. Morán-Del; Juan-Valdés, Andrés (2023). Mechanical behaviour of grapevine wood affected by Xylotrechus arvicola. Maderas. Ciencia y tecnologia. ISSN 0717-3644. 25:16, p. 1-14
Publisher
Universidade Federal de São Carlos