PROTECTED CULTIVATION IN VITICULTURE

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0771325120211

• Palavras-chave: -

• Keywords: -

• Abstract: The grapevine (Vitis spp.) is one of the most economically significant fruit crops in Brazil, standing out in the fruit production sector for both domestic consumption and export. Among the innovative practices used to enhance production, protected cultivation has proven to be a promising technique in both emerging and traditional viticultural regions. This technique enables grapevines to express their maximum productive and qualitative potential by partially controlling environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. The use of plastic covers in protected cultivation systems minimizes plant exposure to adverse climatic factors, such as rainfall and dew, which often contribute to the formation of microclimates favorable to the proliferation of phytopathogenic agents, including fungi and bacteria. In addition to significantly reducing disease incidence, this system decreases the need for chemical pesticides, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production system that is also safer for consumers. Although the initial cost of implementing protected cultivation is high, it is offset by a rapid economic return, justified by the reduced use of inputs, increased management efficiency, and superior grape quality, which commands higher market prices. Thus, protected cultivation systems not only improve productivity but also meet the demands of an increasingly discerning consumer market regarding quality and food safety.