Impact of grapevine age on vigor and berry development
Abstract
The effect of grapevine age on growth and berry development was studied from 2014 to 2016 on an experimental vineyard managed by the Hochschule Geisenheim University in Geisenheim, Germany. The vineyard was initially planted in 1971 with Vitis vinifera (L.) cv. Riesling grafted on 5C Teleki. In 1995 and 2012, several rows were uprooted and replanted with the same clone/rootstock combination, resulting in a vineyard with alternating rows of the same plant material but different planting years.
Bud number was adjusted at the beginning of each season. Cover crop was already established in rows planted in 1971 and 1995 at the beginning of the experiment but was not established before 2015 for grapevines planted in 2012 to prevent excessive early competition for hydromineral resources. From 2014 to 2016, phenological stages were no significantly different among the three age groups. Estimated primary and lateral leaf areas were higher for the two older groups, except in 2016. Leaf chlorophyll index, berry nitrogen content, and must pH of young grapevines were significantly higher in 2014; this trend was reduced in following years after cover crop was established. In 2016, due to increased water deficit at the end of the season, young grapevines had smaller berries and showed lower stomatal conductance and photosynthetic activity. This suggests that young grapevines are more sensitive to water stress compared to older vines.
Issue: GiESCO 2017
Type: Extended abstract
Format: Oral
Authors
1 Hochschule Geisenheim University, Von-Lade-Str. 1, 65366, Geisenheim, Germany
2 UMR EGFV, ISVV, 210 Chemin de Leysotte – CS 50008, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France
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Keywords
vine age, old vine, Riesling, water stress, vigor