Water use efficiency in Sangiovese grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) subjected to water stress before veraison: different levels of assessment lead to different conclusions

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Clara Merli ◽  
Matteo Gatti ◽  
Marco Galbignani ◽  
Fabio Bernizzoni ◽  
Eugenio Magnanini ◽  
...  

Several recent papers have shown that in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), interpretation of responses to drought can differ depending upon the parameter chosen to express water use efficiency (WUE). In the present paper, a series of WUE expressions, including physiological and agronomical, were compared in potted grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sangiovese) that were either well-watered (WW) or subjected to progressive drought before veraison (WS) by supplying decreasing fractions (i.e. 70%, 50% and 30% of daily vine transpiration (Trd) determined gravimetrically before vines were fully rewatered. Although single-leaf intrinsic and instantaneous WUE increased with water stress severity, seasonal and whole-canopy WUE were similar to that before stress, at 70% Trd and upon rewatering, but dropped during severe water stress. WUE calculated as mass of DW stored in annual biomass (leaves, canes and bunches) per litre of water used did not differ on a seasonal basis, whereas WS plants showed lower must soluble solids at harvest, and unchanged colour and phenolic concentration in spite of smaller berries with higher relative skin growth. Results confirm that whole-canopy WUE is a much better index than any single-leaf based WUE parameter for extrapolation to agronomic WUE and actual grape composition. In our specific case study, it can be recommended that water supply to drought-stressed Sangiovese grapevines before veraison should not be lower than 70% of daily vine water use.

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Palliotti ◽  
Stefano Poni ◽  
Oriana Silvestroni ◽  
Sergio Tombesi ◽  
Fabio Bernizzoni

Morpho-structural and physiological traits of Sangiovese and Montepulciano varieties (Vitis vinifera L. – two red grapes widely cultivated in Italy), grown outside under non-limiting water supply conditions were evaluated in 2007 and 2008 and results were correlated with yield components and grape composition. The 2-year analysis showed intraspecific differences in canopy characteristics, leaf and shoot properties, photosynthetic ability, water use efficiency, vine yield and grape composition. Compared with Sangiovese, Montepulciano was able to assure a higher whole-canopy seasonal net CO2 exchange rate during the season (+38% in mid morning and +49% in mid afternoon). It also had higher water use efficiency (especially early in the morning and in late afternoon) and a higher vine yield (+16%). Furthermore, total soluble solids (+1.7 °Brix), anthocyanins (+0.44 mg cm–2 berry skin) and phenolic compounds (+0.88 mg cm–2 berry skin) were higher in the grapes. To ensure this performance, Montepulciano vines have to support higher costs of growth and maintenance processes, made possible because of the increased respiration activity of the canopy during the night. We confirmed that vine yield and grape composition is strictly dependent on the seasonal photosynthetic capacity of the canopy. Therefore, Montepulciano should be put in a position to fully realise this substantial photosynthetic potential, by avoiding or reducing environmental stress. Sangiovese is structurally and morpho-physiologically better able to withstand any stress during the summer than Montepulciano. Sangiovese xylem tissue had larger mean vessel density and smaller mean vessel diameter and hydraulic conductance than Montepulciano, holding the hypothesis of less susceptibility to conduit damage.


2014 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Poni ◽  
Marco Galbignani ◽  
Eugenio Magnanini ◽  
Fabio Bernizzoni ◽  
Alberto Vercesi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Hipólito Medrano ◽  
Ignacio Tortosa ◽  
Esther Montes ◽  
Alicia Pou ◽  
Pedro Balda ◽  
...  

HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1389-1393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molla Md. Nuruddin ◽  
Chandra A. Madramootoo ◽  
Georges T. Dodds

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Sunstart) were grown in a greenhouse during Summer 1999 and again in Winter 2000. Two available soil water (ASW) deficit thresholds, 65% and 80%, at which plants were irrigated to field capacity were factorially combined with five irrigation timing patterns: 1) no water stress; 2) stress throughout the entire growing season; 3) stress during first cluster flowering and fruit set 4) stress during first cluster fruit growth; and 5) stress during first cluster fruit ripening. Crop yields, water use efficiency, as well as maximum and minimum equatorial fruit diameters and fruit height were measured. Quality parameters of soluble solids, pH, and fruit color were also measured. Water stress throughout the growing season significantly reduced yield and fruit size, but plants stressed only during flowering showed fewer but bigger fruit than completely non-stressed plants. Consequently, on a weight basis the stressed at flowering and nonstressed plants had similar yields. Nonstressed and flowering-stressed fruit showed lower soluble solids and a lighter color of red ripe fruit than the other stress treatments. No significant differences in yield or quality were found between the two stress levels (65% vs. 80% ASW depletion before irrigation). Water stress only during flowering resulted in better yields and quality than stress at other specific developmental stages or at all times, but equal or poorer yields and water use efficiency than nonstressed plants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Clara Merli ◽  
Matteo Gatti ◽  
Marco Galbignani ◽  
Fabio Bernizzoni ◽  
Eugenio Magnanini ◽  
...  

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