Despoina Bouza

Despoina Bouza is a Lecturer and member of the Lab Teaching Staff at the Laboratory of Viticulture, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens. She holds a MSc in Viticulture and Enology and actively contributes to teaching laboratory courses such as Viticulture I-III (Raisin Technology, Table Grapes Technology, and Advanced Issues) and Advanced Viticulture. Her research focuses on grapevine propagation, grape quality analysis, fertilization effects in vineyards, and the application of molecular methods for cultivar differentiation. She has published extensively in journals like Food Chemistry and Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, with studies on polyphenol profiling, microsatellite-based cultivar identification, and vineyard management techniques. Bouza also serves as a judge in international wine competitions, applying her expertise in grape and wine quality assessment. Her work bridges applied viticulture research with educational outreach, emphasizing practical vineyard practices and cultivar characterization.

Education: MSc in Viticulture and Enology, Agricultural University of Athens.

Research Interests: Grapevine propagation techniques, berry quality metrics (phenolic compounds, antioxidant potential), soil and nutrient management in vineyards, ampelographic and molecular cultivar differentiation, and the impact of environmental/climatic factors on grape composition. She employs analytical methods like HPLC, spectrophotometry, and microsatellite markers to study Greek cultivars' unique characteristics.

Teaching Contributions: Leads laboratory sessions for undergraduate courses covering raisin technology, table grape production, advanced viticultural practices, and vineyard infrastructure management. Courses emphasize practical skills in vine physiology, propagation, and quality analysis.

Publications Overview: Her recent work addresses topics such as rootstock effects on grape quality (2024), soil management in Kefalonia vineyards (2024), and canopy topping impacts on Mavrodafni grapes (2024). Earlier studies include climate-related polyphenol variations (2020) and genetic differentiation of Greek cultivars (2020). Themes consistently revolve around optimizing vineyard productivity and preserving indigenous grape varieties.

Awards: No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Advising & Grants: No listed advisees or grant information available.

Labs & Teams: Active member of the Viticulture Lab team at the Agricultural University of Athens, collaborating on projects related to cultivar characterization and sustainable vineyard practices.