Abstract:
Plant growth and reproductivity of grape
cv
. 'Italia' subjected to two different
irrigation levels in controlled glasshouse were inv
estigated over 2 years. Initially, two
years old vines were grafted on 5 BB (
V. berlandieri
Planch.×
V. riparia
Michx.), 99 R (
V.
berlandieri
Planch.×
V. rupestris
Scheele) rootstocks or on its own root system in 4
0 L pots.
During the cultivation, half of the vines of each e
xperimental group were Fully Irrigated
(FI: 100% of field capacity) while the others were
subjected to continuous Deficit
Irrigation (DI: 40% of field capacity). During the
study, significant negative effects of DI
on plant vegetative development and physiology were
observed. The lignified shoot length
of vine on 5 BB rootstock decreased by 29.1% under
DI as compared to growth under FI.
On the other hand, the vine with 99 R rootstock dec
reased by 18.2% under DI as
compared to lignified shoot growth under FI, while
a 20.1% decrease occurred for own
root (DI vs. FI). Also, DI regime resulted in sligh
t decreases in P, K, and Ca status of
leaves, while Zn and Cu concentrations were signifi
cantly higher in the vines subjected to
DI. DI resulted in reduced cluster weight and vine
yield in varying degrees with respect to
rootstock usage. Under DI condition, the vines on 9
9 R yielded better than those on 5 BB,
but vines on on 5 BB reacted adversely to DI. Consi
dering the overall findings, grapevines
cv.
'Italia' on 99 R exhibited higher drought toleranc
e than 5 BB. Rootstocks had slight
impairing effects on physiological traits, yield, a
nd mineral acquisition of grapevine
cv
.
'Italia' as compared to own-rooted.
Keywords:
Grapevine, Deficit irrigation, Rootstock,
Vitis
spp.
