Defining the grapevine establishment load resulting from planting practices

Abstract

The grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a perennial crop species cultivated for decades in vineyards. After establishment, the root system develops within the soil to support water and nutrient acquisition. Root development and the resulting root system architecture are shaped by several factors (e.g., genotype, soil properties), leading to contrasting architectures and functions (e.g., drought susceptibility). Studies on planted tree species have highlighted that planting practices (e.g., planting depth or timing) and root system origin (e.g., container-grown or bare-root stock) influence growth, water status, anchorage, and mortality over both short- and long-term timescales (Danjon et al., 2025; Pernot et al., 2019). However, the belowground mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear (Grossnickle & Ivetić, 2022). In grapevine, despite its potential impact, the influence of planting practices on root system establishment and subsequent plant development has not yet been studied. We propose that planting practices determine an “establishment load”, defined as a persistent structural imprint of the initial root system configuration that constrains subsequent developmental trajectories and ultimately determines long-term performance and resilience in vineyards. To test this hypothesis, we compared above- and belowground growth and development under contrasting planting practices in gravelly sandy soil : one-year-old bare-root plants, manually (MA) or mechanically (ME) planted, with either short (SR) or long (LR) adventitious roots. Root system distribution and architectural modifications were characterized using the trench wall method and 3D digitizing.

Planting methods strongly influenced root distribution in LR plants, with shallower and more horizontally oriented roots in the ME treatment, whereas MA plants developed deeper and more vertically oriented roots. Planting practices also modified radial distribution around the plant, with a more homogeneous distribution in SR plants. Moreover, root length at planting influenced subsequent root growth, with thicker young roots observed in SR plants. We hypothesize that these modifications may strongly influence plant functioning, resilience, and tolerance during the first years following establishment by conditioning root distribution and resource acquisition. Future studies will assess the long-term consequences of these planting practices on root system development and plant responses to abiotic stresses (e.g., drought). From a practical perspective, this work will provide recommendations to improve root system establishment (and thus long-term vineyard performance) and grapevine resilience in the context of climate change.

References

Danjon, F., Danquechin Dorval, A., & Meredieu, C. (2025). Pinus pinaster root architecture 2 to 5 years after container rearing and outplanting : Tropism loss, root clustering and resilience. Plant and Soil, 508(1‑2), 441‑467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06807-3

Grossnickle, S. C., & Ivetić, V. (2022). Root system development and field establishment : Effect of seedling quality. New Forests, 53(6), 1021‑1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-022-09916-y

Pernot, C., Thiffault, N., & DesRochers, A. (2019). Root system origin and structure influence planting shock of black spruce seedlings in boreal microsites. Forest Ecology and Management, 433, 594‑605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.043