Effects of intercropping medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) on grapevine cv. Sangiovese berry volatile compounds

The effects of intercropping grapevines with the medicinal aromatic plants (MAPs) basil, lemon balm and sage, on berry volatile compounds of grapevine cv. Sangiovese were evaluated under field conditions. MAPs were cultivated in the rows of a mature vineyard. The introduction of MAPs in the vineyards slowed down technological ripening and increased total VOCs in Sangiovese berries. Among the different VOCs classes, C13-norisoprenoids, vanillins, and phenols showed significantly higher concentrations in berries of grapevine intercropped with MAPs. The presence of MAPs enhanced berry concentration of: vomifoliol (C13-norisoprenoids), homovanillic alcohol, and homovanillic acid (vanillins), 4-vinylguaiacol, syringol and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol (phenols) and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol (aliphatic alcohols), while reducing the level of p-cymen-7-ol, 1-hexanol and nerol. Data suggest that intercropping with MAPs could influence the accumulation of VOCs in grapevines and contribute to the composition and volatile profile of this cultivar.