Grapevines hydraulic diversity -A critical consideration for irrigation management?

U. Hochberga, A. Degu, A. Fait, S. Rachmilevitch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Majority of the world vines are grown under water limitation, either for quality enhancement or for the lack of irrigation possibility. It was established that different cultivars of grapes use varied strategies to deal with drought stress. However, this variability is rarely linked with agricultural management and irrigation strategies. In the presented research we characterized the hydraulic differences between 'Cabernet Sauvignon' (CS) and 'Shiraz', and explored the origin and outcomes of hydraulic differences, from plant physiology to berry quality. The cultivars were studied in the field and in the green-house. Under both growth conditions deficit irrigation treatments were given to both cultivars. Gas exchange, fluorometry, xylem architecture and metabolic analysis methods (GC-MS, LC-MS) were used to investigate plant response to water stress. Xylem architecture and stomata regulation were found to be a major factor in determination of the cultivar hydraulic behavior. Compared with 'Shiraz', a tighter hydraulic regulation in CS was shown to sustain higher water potentials (Ψ) and buffer the vine systematic stress response. In response to water deficit several parameters such as: metabolic modification in both the leaf and skin, xylem differentiation to smaller vessels and photochemistry were shown to be milder in CS. As compared with 'Shiraz', CS compensated for its lower stomata conductance with higher intrinsic water use efficiency and photorespiration rates. The combined physiological and metabolism research, allows a deeper understanding of the an/isohydric phenomena and its implication on grapevines performances under water deficit. The varied response of different grapevine cultivars to water limitations, suggests that irrigation regimes should be adjusted specifically per cultivar in order to improve yield and quality.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication8th International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
EditorsJ. Girona, J. Marsal
PublisherInternational Society for Horticultural Science
Pages443-448
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9789462611450
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Jan 2017

Publication series

NameActa Horticulturae
Volume1150
ISSN (Print)0567-7572

Keywords

  • Anisohydric
  • Hydraulics
  • Irrigation
  • Isohydric
  • Metabolism
  • Vitis vinifera
  • Xylem architecture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Horticulture

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