Today, we're going to look at viticulture and boron. Boron is a trace mineral found in red wine and plays an important role in the body's metabolism. One question often asked is how much boron is there in wine.

Welcome back to Borates Today.

Today, we're going to look at viticulture and boron.

Boron is a trace mineral found in red wine and plays an important

role in the body's metabolism.

One question often asked is how much boron is there in wine.

Well, in red wine, boron concentrations are typically between 0.1 to 10

milligrams per liter as boric acid.

To ensure quality standards are maintained, the International Organization

of Vine and Wine, or O I V sets a maximum allowable boric acid concentration

limit of 80 milligrams per liter, or 14 milligrams per liter of boron.

So, what is the connection between boron, wine and health?

Boron is an essential trace element for plants, including vines.

Before a bottle of wine can be opened, vineyard owners know it's important to

ensure that grapevines get the right amount of boron to optimize their

health and productivity while growing.

Too little boron can result in yellow blotched leaves, swollen shoots,

impaired fruit set, and shot berries.

Meanwhile too much boron can be just as damaging to a vineyard.

Boron toxicity occurs with uneven borax application to cure

or prevent boron deficiency.

The dark coloration of vine leaves is the first sign of toxicity.

As the severity increases, these merge causing the leaves

to pucker, wrinkle and die.

So the key is to strike a balance between deficiency and excess.

Viticultural practices such as soil type and irrigation directly affect the

availability of boron in the environment.

Sandy or acidic soils may require additional supplementation with water

soluble fertilizers that contain boron.

This way the vineyard can ensure it has the right amount

of boron for optimal health.

In a study into how boron benefits vines, the study concluded that

foliar boron treatments are preferable as they yield outcomes

much faster than soil applications.

The application of boric acid resulted in increased nutrient concentrations

of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

But potassium and iron concentrations were reduced.

It was also observed that all other treatments had widely sizes

compared to the controlled treatment.

Additionally, cluster weight, width and volumes were increased significantly after

boric acid treatments, a clear indication of a positive influence on plant growth.

Boric acid applications also affect berry homogeneity, resulting in

a more homogenous presentation.

The 0.1% boric acid treatment produced the highest soluble solid and maturity index.

With rising boron doses, water-soluble dry matter contents were reduced,

while acidity values were enhanced.

Treatments with 0.3% boric acid in particular, significantly

positively impacted quality, size, and color uniformity.

Based on the nutrients and pH levels of the soils under investigation,

it was found that foliar nutrient treatments might aid, plant

growth and development better.

So is a glass of wine, beneficial to your health?

Well, a moderate amount of wine can benefit your health.

A glass of wine contains antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and protect

against cell damage from free radicals.

Grapes have a high polyphenol content, an antioxidant that reduces

oxidative stress and inflammation.

Compared to white grape varieties, red wine grapes have higher antioxidant levels

so drinking red wine may cause a greater increase in blood antioxidant levels.

A two week study of 40 adults discovered that drinking 400 milliliters of red

wine daily enhanced antioxidant capacity.

While there are certainly positive benefits to drinking a glass of red wine

each day, it is important to remember that too much alcohol consumption

can lead to serious health problems.

And that's all from Borates Today.

We hope that you've enjoyed this quick dive into viticulture and boron.