Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Plant nitrogen assimilation and partitioning as a function of crop load

Plant nitrogen assimilation and partitioning as a function of crop load

Abstract

Aims: The optimization of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE, i.e. uptake, assimilation and partitioning) is a solution towards the sustainable production of premium wines, while reducing fertilization and environmental impact. The influence of crop load on the accumulation of N compounds in fruits is still poorly understood. The present study assesses the impacts of bunch thinning on NUE and the consequences on the free amino N (FAN) profile in fruits.

Methods and Results: A large crop load gradient was imposed by bunch thinning (0.5 to 2.5 kg m–2) in a homogeneous plot of 225 vines. Isotope-labelled foliar urea (10 atom % 15N) was applied on the canopy of the fertilized treatment at veraison. The plants were excavated at four phenological stages over the two seasons (bud burst, flowering, veraison and harvest) and were individually split into five plant parts (roots, trunk, canopy, pomace and must). Total nitrogen and its stable isotope composition were determined in each part, with the aim of monitoring NUE as a function of crop load and fertilization.

The N concentration in fruits either at veraison or at harvest was not related to crop load variation. N concentration was maintained in the must to the detriment of N content in the roots. The root dry weight was 15 % lower and the root N quantity 27 % lower under high yielding conditions (HYC, compared to low yielding conditions LYC). The fertilizer N uptake was 41 % higher under HYC than under LYC. Consequently, urea supply had a positive impact on the yeast assimilable N concentration in the must (+55 mg L-1) only under HYC. However, the must FAN profile was significantly affected by the crop load, suggesting a possible modification of the aroma potential, independently from fertilization and grape maturation.

Conclusion: 

Using a 15N-labeling method, we demonstrate that grapevine has a strong ability to regulate nitrogen uptake and reserve mobilization to maintain a constant fruit N concentration despite changes in crop load. Foliar-urea fertilization at veraison was more efficient under HYC and helped to fulfill grape N demand, while limiting the mobilization of N reserves. However, the crop load affected the must FAN profile, inducing a possible modification of the fruit aroma. 

Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings highlight the great capacity of plants to adapt their N metabolism to constraints, e.g. bunch thinning in this case. These results are important to improve perennial fruit crop production through higher fertilization efficiency and lower environmental impact. Without fertilization, plant nutrition can be enhanced through the optimization of agricultural practices. The root activity appears to be key for understanding the mechanisms that balance N nutrition in plants

DOI:

Publication date: March 25, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type : Video

Authors

Thibaut Verdenal1, Vivian Zufferey1, Agnes Dienes-Nagy1, Olivier Viret2, Cornelis van Leeuwen3, Jorge Spangenberg4, Jean-Laurent Spring1

1Agroscope Institute, Av. Rochettaz 21, CH-1009 Pully, Switzerland
2Direction générale de l’agriculture, de la viticulture et des affaires vétérinaires (DGAV), Av. de Marcelin 29, CH-1110 Morges, Switzerland
3EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, ISVV, F-33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France
4Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

Contact the author

Keywords

Nitrogen partitioning, crop load, isotope labelling, amino acids, vines

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

Ecophysiological performance of Vitis rootstocks under water stress

The use of rootstocks tolerant to soil water deficit is an interesting strategy to cope with limited water availability. Currently, several nurseries are breeding new genotypes, but the physiological basis of its responses under water stress are largely unknown. To this end, an ecophysiological assessment of the conventional 110-Richter (110R) and SO4, and the new M1 and M4 rootstocks was carried out in potted ungrafted plants. During one season, these Vitis genotypes were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to two water regimes, well-watered and water deficit. Water potentials of plants under water deficit down to < -1.4 MPa, and net photosynthesis (AN) <5 μmol m-2 s-1 did not cause leaf oxidative stress damage compared to well-watered conditions in any of the genotypes. The antioxidant capacity was sufficient to neutralize the mild oxidative stress suffered. Under both treatments, gravimetric differences in daily water use were observed among genotypes, leading to differences in the biomass of root, shoot and leaf. Under well-watered conditions, SO4 and 110R were the most vigorous and M1 and M4 the least. However, under water stress, SO4 exhibited the greatest reduction in biomass while M4 showed the lowest. Remarkably, under these conditions, SO4 reached the least negative stem water potential (Ψstem), while M1 reduced stomatal conductance (gs) and AN the most. In addition, SO4 and M1 genotypes also showed the highest and lowest hydraulic conductance values, respectively. Our results suggest that there are differences in water use regulation among genotypes, not only attributed to differences in stomatal regulation or intrinsic water use efficiency at the leaf level. Therefore, because no differences in canopy-to-root ratio were achieved, it is hypothesized that xylem vessel anatomical differences may be driving the reported differences among rootstocks performance. Results demonstrate that each Vitis rootstock differs in its ecophysiological responses under water stress.

Characterization of variety-specific changes in bulk stomatal conductance in response to changes in atmospheric demand and drought stress

In wine growing regions around the world, climate change has the potential to affect vine transpiration and overall vineyard water use due to related changes in atmospheric demand and soil water deficits. Grapevines control their transpiration in response to a changing environment by regulating conductance of water through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Most vineyard water use models currently estimate vine transpiration by applying generic crop coefficients to estimates of reference evapotranspiration, but this does not account for changes in vine conductance associated with water stress, nor differences thought to exist between varieties. The response of bulk stomatal conductance to daily weather variability and seasonal drought stress was studied on Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Ugni blanc, and Semillon vines in a non-irrigated vineyard in Bordeaux France. Whole vine sap flow, temperature and humidity in the vine canopy, and net radiation absorbed by the vine canopy were measured on 15-minute intervals from early July through mid-September 2020, together with periodic measurement of leaf area, canopy porosity, and predawn leaf water potential. From this data, bulk stomatal conductance was calculated on 15-minute intervals, and multiple regression analysis was performed to identify key variables and their relative effect on conductance. Attention was focused on addressing multicollinearity and time-dependency in the explanatory variables and developing regression models that were readily interpretable. Variability of vapor pressure deficit over the day, and predawn water potential over the season explained much of the variability in conductance, with relative differences in response coefficients observed across the five varieties. By characterizing this conductance response, the dynamics of vine transpiration can be better parameterized in vineyard water use modeling of current and future climate scenarios.

A predictive model of spatial Eca variability in the vineyard to support the monitoring of plant status

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...

Analysis of some environmental factors and cultural practices that affect the production and quality of the Manto Negro, Callet and Prensal Blanc varieties

45 non irrigated vineyards distributed in the DO (Denomination) Pla i Llevant de Mallorca and the DO Binissalem Mallorca were used to investigate the characteristics of production and quality and their relationships certain environmental factors and cultural practices. The grape varieties investigated are autochthonous to the island of Mallorca, Manto Negro and Callet as red and Prensal Blanc as white. All plants were measured for four consecutive years in the main production and quality parameters. Among the environmental factors, the type of soil has been studied, more specifically its water retention capacity, the planting density, the age of the vineyard and the level of viral infection. The presence or absence of virus seems to have no effect on any component studied in the varieties studied. For the white variety Prensal Blanc age is negatively correlated with production and the number of bunches, nevertheless it does not cause any effect on the required quality parameters. However, for the red varieties Callet and Manto Negro, the age of the plantation is the variable that best correlates with the quality parameters, therefore the old vines should be the object of preservation by the viticulturists and winemakers in order to guarantee its contribution to the quality of the wines made with these varieties.

Effects of graft quality on growth and grapevine-water relations

Climate change is challenging viticulture worldwide compromising its sustainability due to warmer temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme events. Grafting Vitis vinifera L.