Agents used in viticulture within the large group of pesticides. The name is derived from the Latin terms "herba" (herb, grass) and "caedere" (to kill). Herbicides are divided into algicides(algae), arboricides (woody plants) and graminicides (grasses)). Herbicides are used in agriculture and also in viticulture to control weeds (weeds), although only certain preparations are approved in specific countries. Depending on the application, there are foliar herbicides and soil herbicides. Leaf herbicides are only applied after the plants have sprouted, which is why they are also called post-emergence herbicides.
The best-known branded products include Basta and Round Up. Soil herbicides are also called pre-emergence herbicides. Well-known branded products are Afalon and Rapir. Relatively new are products that have a strong growth-promoting effect - i.e. the plant grows faster than it can supply itself with nutrients, which leads to death. The most radical are total herbicides, which act on all plants and kill them. Genetic engineering methods are also used to try to breed plants that are resistant to total herbicides.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena