A perennial grapevine root growth model to match rootstocks to vineyards

Abstract

Rootstocks are key to sustaining yield, wine style, and vineyard resilience under increasing climatic variability. However, decision-making for matching genotypes to site conditions remains constrained by limited belowground data and the perennial nature of grapevine root system development, highlighting the need for models that help explore structural and functional root system dynamics virtually.

We present a new process-based model for perennial grapevine root growth that integrates seasonal dormancy, age-dependent turnover of structural and absorptive roots, secondary thickening, and functional transitions emerging from root demography. The model extends the CPlantBox framework and is parameterized using high-resolution 3D root architecture data from both young and mature vines. By coupling root development with soil hydraulics, it enables dynamic estimation of water uptake under contrasting site conditions.

We demonstrate how this framework can serve as a terroir-oriented decision tool to explore rootstock × environment × management interactions. The model dynamically simulates root system architecture and couples it with environmental and management factors. “Environment” can be represented by climatic and edaphic conditions (e.g., shallow soils with intermittent summer rainfall versus deep profiles recharged during winter), while “management” can be represented by plant–plant interactions such as cover cropping, which introduces competition for soil resources. Simulations translate measurable RSA traits such as rooting depth, vertical distribution, lateral spread and structural root longevity into performance indicators for drought resilience and resource use.

This approach provides a mechanistic link between site properties, root system architecture, and vine water relations, enabling transparent evaluation of trait-based trade-offs across contrasting rootstock genotypes and drought scenarios. Rather than identifying a single “best” rootstock, it supports evidence-based matching of root systems to vineyard conditions. Beyond site-specific decision support, the model lays the groundwork for integrating perennial root development into vineyard water balance models, climate adaptation scenarios, and breeding pipelines targeting root traits for drought resilience.