Michela Centinari, Ph.D.

Michela Centinari, Ph.D.

  • Associate Professor of Viticulture
218 Tyson Building
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Wine grape production
  • Grapevine physiology
  • Sustainable viticulture
  • cold temperature stress

Education

  • Post-doctoral Research, Cornell University, Department of Horticulture, 2010-2013.
  • Ph.D., Viticulture, 2008, University of Bologna (Italy)
  • B.S., Horticulture, 2003, University of Bologna (Italy)

Selected publications

  • Harner AD, Leach H, Briggs L, Smith DE, Zweifel R, and Centinari M. (In press). Shifts in water use in grapevine due to an invasive sap-feeding planthopper persist following insect removal. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 378:109321. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109321.
  • Centinari M, Smith D (In Press) Effects of Spring Freeze Damage and Training Systems on the Viticulture Performance of Young ‘Marquette’ Grapevines. Hort Technology
  • Hed B, Centinari M. (In Press) Mechanical leaf removal for improved Botrytis bunch rot control in Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot gris’ and ‘Pinot noir’ grapevines in the northeastern U.S. Plant Disease.
  • Harner A, Smith MS, Keller ST, Hopfer H, and Centinari M. (2024) Identifying an early leaf removal threshold for Grüner Veltliner, a high yielding, high vigor cultivar. Am J Enol Vitic. 75:0750005 DOI: 10.5344/ajev.2024.23021
  • Wang H, Moghe G, Kovaleski A, Keller M, Martinson T, Wright AH, Franklin, JL, Hébert-Haché A, Provost C, Atucha A, North MG, Russo JP, Helwi P, Centinari M, and Londo J. (2024). NYUS.2: an automated machine learning prediction model for the large-scale real-time simulation of grapevine freezing tolerance in North America. Horticulture Research 11, 2, uhad286, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhad286
  • Kelley K, Hopfer H, Centinari M (2024), "Evaluating white wine consumer interest in Grüner Veltliner: a potential signature varietal for Pennsylvania" International Journal of Wine Business Research, 36 (3), 301-328. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-04-2023-0020
  • King WL, Yates CF, Cao L, O'Rourke-Ibach S, Fleishman SM, Richards S., Centinari M, Hafner B, Goebel M, Bauerle T, Kim Y, Nicora C, Anderton C, Eissenstat D, and Bell T. (2023). Functionally discrete fine roots differ in microbial assembly, microbial functional potential, and produced metabolites. Plant, Cell & Environment 46, 3919–3932 https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14705.
  • Leach H, Mariani T, Centinari M, and Urban J. (2023) Evaluating integrated pest management tactics for spotted lanternfly management in vineyards. Pest Management Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7528
  • Persico M, Smith DE, Smith MS, Hopfer H, and Centinari M. (2023). Delaying grapevine budbreak to prevent spring freeze damage impacts Lemberger wine flavour compounds under variable weather conditions. OENO One, 57(2), 331–343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20870/oeno-one.2023.57.2.7437
  • Persico M, Fleishman SM, Eissenstat D, Bell T, and Centinari M. (2023). The age of absorptive roots impacts root-adjacent microbial composition in grapevines. Phytobiomes. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-11-22-0078-SC
  • Fleishman SM, Bell T, Centinari M, and Eissenstat D. (2023). Assessing microbial communities across the fine root landscape. Journal of Experimental Botany. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erad019
  • Fleishman SM, Eissenstat D, Hoffer G, and Centinari M. (2023). Cover crops and a devigorating rootstock can impart substantial agroecosystem services to high-resource vineyards: a multi-year study. Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108
  • Fleishman SM, Eissenstat D, Bell TH, and Centinari M. (2022). Functionally-explicit sampling can answer key questions about the specificity of plant–microbe -interactions. Environmental Microbiome 17, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-022-00445-x
  • Harner AD, Leach HL, Briggs L, and Centinari M (2022). Prolonged phloem feeding by the spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper, alters resource allocation and inhibits gas exchange in grapevines. Plant Direct 6, e452.https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.452
  • Islam T, Kudla-Williams C, Kar S, Londo JP, Centinari M, Rosa C (2022) Deciphering genome-wide transcriptomic changes in grapevines heavily infested by spotted lanternflies. Frontiers in Insect Science, 2:971221. doi: 10.3389/finsc.2022.97122
  • Kelley KM, Todd M, Hopfer H, and Centinari, M. (2022). Identifying wine consumers interested in environmentally sustainable production practices. International Journal of Wine Business Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-01-2021-0003.
  • Vanden Heuvel J and Centinari M (2021). Under-vine vegetation mitigates the impacts of excessive precipitation in vineyards. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12:713135. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.713135
  • Persico MJ, Smith DE, and Centinari M. (2021). Delaying budbreak to reduce freeze damage: Seasonal vine performance and wine composition in two V. vinifera cultivars. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. DOI: 10.5344/ajev.2021.21008.
  • Keller ST, Harner AD, Centinari M, Elias RJ, and Hopfer H. (2021). Influence of Region on Sensory and Chemical Profiles of Pennsylvania Grüner Veltliner Wines. Foods 10(4): 825. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10040825
  • King WL, Yates CF, Guo J, Fleishman SM, Trexler RV, Centinari M, Bell TH, and Eissenstat DM. (2021). The hierarchy of root branching order determines bacterial composition, microbial carrying capacity and microbial filtering. Communications Biology 4:483. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01988-4
  • Fleishman SM, Bock HW, Eissenstat DM, and Centinari M. (2021). Undervine groundcover substantially increases shallow but not deep soil carbon in a temperate vineyard. Agriculture, Ecosystem, & Environment 313, 107362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107362
  • Yates CF, Guo J, Bell TH, Fleishman SM, Bock HW, Trexler RV, Eissenstat DM, and Centinari M. (2021). Tree-induced alterations to soil properties and rhizoplane-associated bacteria following 23 years in a common garden. Plant and Soil 461(1), 591-602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04846-8
  • Hed B and Centinari M. (2021) Gibberellin application improved bunch rot control of Vignoles grapes, but response to  mechanical defoliation varied between training systems. Plant Disease 105 (2), 339–345. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-20-1184-RE
  • Harner AD, Vanden Heuvel JE, Marini R, Elias RJ, and Centinari M. (2019). Modeling the impacts of weather and cultural factors on rotundone concentration in cool-climate Noiret wine grapes. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10:1255. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01255
  • Smith MS and Centinari M. (2019). Young grapevines exhibit interspecific differences in hydraulic response to freeze stress but not in recovery. Planta  250, 495-505.doi: 10.1007/s00425-019-03183-6
  • Fleishman SM, Eissenstat DM, and Centinari M. (2019). Rootstock vigor shifts aboveground response to groundcover competition in young grapevines. Plant and Soil, 440, 151-165.
  • Smith MS and Centinari M. (2019). Impacts of early leaf removal and cluster thinning on Grüner Veltliner production, fruit composition, and vine health. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 70, 308-317.
  • Hed B and Centinari M. (2018). Hand and mechanical fruit-zone leaf removal at prebloom and fruit set was more effective in reducing crop yield than reducing bunch rot in 'Riesling' grapevines. HortTechnolgy 28, 296–303.
  • Centinari M, Gardner DM, Smith DE, Smith MS. (2018). Impact of Amigo oil and KDL on grapevine post-bud burst freeze damage, yield components, fruit and wine composition. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 69, 77-88. 
  • Homich L.J., Elias R.J, Vanden Heuvel JE, Centinari M. (2017). The impact of fruit-zone leaf removal on rotundone concentration in Noiret. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 68, 447–457.
  • Centinari M, Smith MS, Londo JP. (2016). Assessment of freeze injury of grapevine green tissues in response to cultivars and a cryoprotectant product. HortScience 51, 856-860.
  • Centinari M, Kelley K., Hed B., Miller A, Patel-Campillo A. (2016). Assessing Pennsylvania wine grape growers' challenges and needs. Journal of Extension 54, 1-7.
  • Klodd A, Eissenstat  DM, Wolf TK, Centinari M. (2016). Coping with cover crop competition in mature grapevines. Plant and Soil 1, 391-400.
  • Centinari M, Vanden Heuvel JE, Goebel M, Smith M and Bauerle TL. (2016). Root-zone management practices impact above and belowground growth in Cabernet Franc grapevines . Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 1, 137-148.
  • Bauerle TL, Centinari M. (2014). Assessment of root system development among four ornamental tree species through time via x-ray computed tomography. HortScience 49, 44-50.
  • Centinari M, Filippetti I, Bauerle TL, Allegro G, Valentini G, Poni S. (2013). Cover Crop water use in relation to vineyard floor management practices. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 64, 522-526.
  • Centinari M, Poni S, Intrigliolo DS, Dragoni D, Lakso AN. (2012). Cover crop evapotranspiration in a northeastern US Concord (Vitis labruscana) vineyard. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 18, 73-79.
  • Bauerle TL, Centinari M, Bauerle WL. (2011). Shifts in xylem vessel diameter and embolisms in grafted apple trees of differing rootstock growth potential in response to drought. Planta 234, 1045-1054.
  • Centinari M, Poni S, Filippetti I, Magnanini E, Intrieri C. (2009). Evaluation of an open portable chamber system for measuring cover crop water use in a vineyard and comparison with a mini-lysimeter approach. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 149, 1975-1982.
  • Intrigliolo DS, Lakso AN, Centinari M. (2009). Testing the shoot autonomy theory in Vitis labruscana cv. Concord. Vitis 48 (1), 1-5.
  • Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Allegro G., Centinari M. and Poni S. (2008). Early defoliation (hand versus mechanical) for improved crop control and grape composition in Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.). Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 14 (1), 25-32.
  • Filippetti I., Intrieri C., Centinari M., Bucchetti B. and Pastore C. (2005). Molecular characterization of officially registered Sangiovese clones and of other Sangiovese-like biotypes in Tuscany, Corsica and Emilia-Romagna. Vitis 44 (4),167-172.

Publications

NYUS.2: an automated machine learning prediction model for the large-scale real-time simulation of grapevine freezing tolerance in North America
Horticulture Research, Wang, Hongrui, Moghe, Gaurav D., Kovaleski, Al P., Keller, Markus, Martinson, Timothy E., Wright, A. Harrison, Franklin, Jeffrey L., Hébert-Haché, Andréanne, Provost, Caroline, Reinke, Michael, Atucha, Amaya, North, Michael G., Russo, Jennifer P., Helwi, Pierre, Centinari, Michela, Londo, Jason P., 2024

A review of survey results regarding auxin herbicides and vineyard damage: grape grower feedback, Schmidt, C, Hickey, C, Centinari, Michela, Lingenfelter, Dwight, 2024

Field guide to vineyard herbicide drift, Hickey, C, Lingenfelter, Dwight, Centinari, Michela, Schweichler, Jackie, 2024

Evaluating white wine consumer interest in Grüner Veltliner: a potential signature varietal for Pennsylvania
International Journal of Wine Business Research, Kelley, Kathleen Marie, Hopfer, Helene, Centinari, Michela, 2024

Identifying an Early Leaf Removal Threshold for Grüner Veltliner, a High-Yielding, High-Vigor Cultivar
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Harner, Andrew D., Smith, Maria S., Keller, Stephanie T., Hopfer, Helene, Centinari, Michela, 2024

Functionally discrete fine roots differ in microbial assembly, microbial functional potential, and produced metabolites
Plant, Cell and Environment, King, William L., Yates, Caylon F., Cao, Lily, O'Rourke-Ibach, Sean, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Richards, Sarah C., Centinari, Michela, Hafner, Benjamin D., Goebel, Marc, Bauerle, Taryn, Kim, Young Mo, Nicora, Carrie D., Anderton, Christopher R., Eissenstat, David M., Bell, Terrence H., 2023

2023 Post-veraison in Pennsylvania, Hickey, Cain, Kwasniewski, M, Centinari, M, Centinari, Michela, Kwasniewski, M, Kelly, Molly, 2023

Be prepared: The Spotted Lanternfly is moving West.
Wine Business Monthly, Hickey, C, Acevedo, F, Centinari, Michela, Schmidt, C, 2023

2023 Cold Injury Events in Pennsylvania Vineyards, Hickey, Cain, Centinari, Michela, 2023

Assessing microbial communities across the fine root landscape
Journal of Experimental Botany, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Centinari, Michela, Bell, Terrence, Eissenstat, David, 2023

Cover crops and a devigorating rootstock can impart substantial agroecosystem services to high-resource vineyards: A multi-year study
Agro-Ecosystems, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Eissenstat, David M., Hoffer, Grant M., Centinari, Michela, 2023

Evaluating integrated pest management tactics for spotted lanternfly management in vineyards
Pest Management Science, Leach, Heather, Mariani, Tom, Centinari, Michela, Urban, Julie, 2023

Delaying grapevine budbreak to prevent spring freeze damage impacts Lemberger wine flavour compounds under variable weather conditions
Oeno One, Persico, Meredith J., Smith, Donald E., Smith, Maria S., Hopfer, Helene, Centinari, Michela, 2023

The Age of Absorptive Roots Impacts Root-Adjacent Microbial Composition in Grapevines
Phytobiomes Journal, Persico, Meredith J., Fleishman, Suzanne M., Eissenstat, David, Bell, Terrence, Centinari, Michela, 2023

Deciphering genome-wide transcriptomic changes in grapevines heavily infested by spotted lanternflies
Frontiers in Insect Science, Islam, Md, Kudla-Williams, Crosley, Kar, Suraj, Londo, Jason, Centinari, Michela, Rosa, Cristina, 2022

Functionally-explicit sampling can answer key questions about the specificity of plant–microbe interactions
Standards in Genomic Sciences, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Eissenstat, David M., Bell, Terrence, Centinari, Michela, 2022

Delaying budbreak to reduce freeze damage: Seasonal vine performance and wine composition in two vitis vinifera cultivars
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Persico, Meredith J., Smith, Donald E., Centinari, Michela, 2021

Veraison to harvest vineyard and winery considerations, Hickey, Cain, Centinari, Michela, Hed, B, Acevedo, F, 2021

Under-Vine Vegetation Mitigates the Impacts of Excessive Precipitation in Vineyards
Frontiers in Plant Science, Vanden Heuvel, Justine, Centinari, Michela, 2021

Undervine groundcover substantially increases shallow but not deep soil carbon in a temperate vineyard
Agro-Ecosystems, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Bock, Hayden W., Eissenstat, David M., Centinari, Michela, 2021

Influence of region on sensory and chemical profiles of pennsylvania grüner veltliner wines
Foods, Keller, Stephanie T., Harner, Andrew D., Centinari, Michela, Elias, Ryan J., Hopfer, Helene, 2021

Spotted lanternfly management in vineyards, Acevedo, F, Leach, H, Biddinger, D, Krawczyk, G, Centinari, Michela, Hickey, C, 2021

A brief review of fruit zone management principles, Hickey, Cain, Centinari, Michela, 2021

Tree‐induced alterations to soil properties and rhizoplane‐associated bacteria following 23 years in a common garden
Plant and Soil, Yates, Caylon, Guo, Jing, Bell, Terrence H., Fleishman, Suzanne, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Bell, T, Boch, Hayden, Bock, Hayden W., Trexler, Ryan, Eissenstat, David M., Centinari, Michela, 2021

The hierarchy of root branching order determines bacterial composition, microbial carrying capacity and microbial filtering
Communications Biology, King, William, Yates, Caylon, Guo, Jing, Fleishman, Suzanne, Trexler, Ryan, Centinari, Michela, Bell, Terrence, Eissenstat, David, 2021

Identifying wine consumers interested in environmentally sustainable production practices
International Journal of Wine Business Research, Kelley, Kathleen Marie, Todd, Marielle, Hopfer, Helene, Centinari, Michela, 2021

Welcome 2020 growing season, Hed, B, Centinari, Michela, Briggs, L, 2020

Considerations for vineyards with Spotted Lanternfly, Briggs, L, Centinari, Michela, Leach, H, 2020

Rootstock vigor shifts aboveground response to groundcover competition in young grapevines
Plant and Soil, Fleishman, Suzanne M., Eissenstat, David M., Centinari, Michela, 2019

Impacts of early leaf removal and cluster thinning on grüner veltliner production, fruit composition, and vine health
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Smith, Maria S., Centinari, Michela, 2019

Early Season Update, Centinari, Michela, 2019

How wine grape growers can help minimize bunch rot, Hed, B, Centinari, Michela, 2019

Pruning strategies for cold climate, Centinari, Michela, 2019

Untangling belowground response of grapevines to cover crop competition, Centinari, Michela, Eissenstat, D, Fleishman, S, Klodd, A, Bauerle, T, 2019

Modeling the Impacts of Weather and Cultural Factors on Rotundone Concentration in Cool-Climate Noiret Wine Grapes
Frontiers in Plant Science, Harner, Andrew D., Vanden Heuvel, Justine E., Harner, Andrew, Marini, Richard P., Vanden Heuvel, J, Elias, Ryan J., Centinari, Michela, 2019

2018 growing season recap, Centinari, Michela, Hed, B, 2018

Viticulture considerations during bloom and early fruit development, Centinari, Michela, Hed, Bryan, Muza, A, Timer, J, 2018

Grapevine bud break 101, Centinari, Michela, 2018

Grapevine leafroll disease in the East. How big a threat does it pose to the Eastern wine grape industry?
Wines & Vines, Hed, B, Rosa, C, Centinari, Michela, Walls III, J, 2018

Impact of amigo oil and KDL on grapevine postbudburst freeze damage, yield components, and fruit and wine composition
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Centinari, Michela, Gardner, Denise M., Smith, Donald E., Smith, Maria S., 2018

The potential of a vegetable-based oil to delay bud burst while maintaining fruit sugar accumulation, Centinari, Michela, Gardner, D, Smith, D, Smith, M, 2018

Looking back at the 2017 growing season, Centinari, Michela, Hed, B, Kelley, K, Timer, J, 2017

Consumer preferences for sustainable wine attributes: A conjoint analysis
Journal of Wine Economics, Kelley, Kathleen, Zelinskie, Jennifer, Centinari, Michela, Gardner, Denise, Govindasamy, Ramu, Hyde, Jeffrey, Rickard, Bradley, Storchmann, Karl, 2017

Impact of fruit-zone leaf removal on rotundone concentration in noiret
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Homich, Laura J., Elias, Ryan J., Van Den Heuvel, Justine E., Centinari, Michela, 2017

A Pruning Primer, Harner, Andrew, Centinari, Michela, 2017

The potential for using under-vine cover crops as an alternative to herbicides in cool climate vineyards, Vanden Heuvel, J, Jordan, L, Karl, A, Chou, Ming-Yi, Centinari, Michela, 2017

Looking back at the 2016 season, Centinari, Michela, Hed, Bryan, Kelley, K, 2016

The impacts of under-trellis cover crops
Wines & Vines, Centinari, Michela, 2016

Assessment of freeze injury of grapevine green tissues in response to cultivars and a cryoprotectant product
Hortscience: A Publication of the American Society for Hortcultural Science, Centinari, Michela, Smith, Maria S., Londo, Jason P., 2016

Benefits and costs of early leaf removal
Wines & Vines, Hed, B, Centinari, Michela, 2016

Coping with cover crop competition in mature grapevines
Plant and Soil, Klodd, A. E., Eissenstat, D. M., Wolf, T. K., Centinari, M., 2016

Root-zone management practices impact above and belowground growth in Cabernet Franc grapevines
Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, Centinari, M., Vanden Heuvel, J. E., Goebel, M., Smith, M. S., Bauerle, T. L., 2016

Assessing growers' challenges and needs to improve wine grape production in Pennsylvania
Journal of Extension, Centinari, Michela, Kelley, Kathleen M., Hed, Bryan, Miller, Abigail, Patel-Campillo, Anouk, 2016

Looking back at the 2015 season, Centinari, Michela, Hed, B, 2015

Harvest 2014: An update to studies on frost injury., Smith, M, Centinari, Michela, 2014

Grape growing in Pennsylvania in spite of the weather, Centinari, Michela, Hed, Bryan, 2014

Winter injury and the Endless Mountains region, Centinari, Michela, Gardner, Denise, 2014

Assessment of root system development among four ornamental tree species through time via X-ray Computed Tomography
Hortscience: A Publication of the American Society for Hortcultural Science, Bauerle, Taryn L., Centinari, Michela, 2014

Cover crop water use in relation to vineyard floor management practices
Wine and Viticulture Journal, Centinari, Michela, Filippetti, I, Bauerle, T, Allegro, G, Valentini, G, Poni, S, 2014