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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 GiESCO 2015 9 GiESCO 2015 – Session 1: Ecophysiology, water, irrigation 9 Hydraulic conductivity and embolism events by Vitis vinifera (cv. Chasselas) in relation to environmental and plant factors

Hydraulic conductivity and embolism events by Vitis vinifera (cv. Chasselas) in relation to environmental and plant factors

Abstract

In vascular plants, water is transported in a metastable form below its vapor pressure in xylem tissue. Under high tensions (negative pressures), the stability of the water column can be broken by the irruption of air bubbles in the xylem, a phenomenon called cavitation. The complete disruption of water transport in a vessel (embolism) reduce the capacity of the xylem tissue to deliver water to the leaves, and limits photosynthesis, growth and plant productivity. At the experimental station of Agroscope in Leytron (Valais, Switzerland), measurements of petiole and stem hydraulic conductivities (Kpetioles respectively stems) were carried out since 2008 with the cultivar Chasselas. The study includes the effects of different water and light regimes on the vulnerability to cavitation during the season. The influence of the organ type (petiole, stem) and the leaf insertion along the stem was also considered. The grapevine seems to be relatively vulnerable to cavitation, especially during limitations of soil available water (edaphic stress) and high climatic demand (high VPD, climatic stress). A decrease of Kpetioles and Kstems was observed during the season as water stress increased.

Daily variations of Kpetioles were measured in relation to high climatic demand (VPD) and water stress level. Leaf acclimation to different light regimes (shaded leaves or light exposed leaves) seems to play a role in petiole hydraulic conductivity rates during the season. Basal leaves on the stem were generally more vulnerable to embolism events in comparison with apical leaves. Furthermore, the visualization in vivo of embolism formation and repair in the vessels of cv. Chasselas was conducted by using the technique of high resolution X-ray tomography. The Chasselas cultivar appears to develop hydraulic segmentation, in which petiole cavitation plays an important role as a “hydraulic fuse”, thereby limiting leaf transpiration and the propagation of embolism and preserving the integrity of other organs.

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Publication date: 07/09/2026

Issue: GiESCO 2015

Type: Extended abstract

Authors

Vivian Zufferey1,*, Silvina Dayer2, Katia Gindro1, Francine Voinesco1, Thibaut Verdenal1, Jorge Spangenberg3, Jean-Laurent Spring1, Olivier Viret1

1 Agroscope, Institut des sciences en production végétale IPV, Route de Duillier 50, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland

2 INTA EEA Mendoza, San Martin 3853, Lujan de Cuyo (5507), Mendoza, Argentina

3 University of Lausanne, Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

Contact the author*

Keywords

conductivity, embolism event, water stress, grapevine

Tags

GiESCO | GiESCO 2015 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

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