Grapevine culture in trenches: root growth and dry matter partitioning

Abstract

As a part of a global project aimed at comparing the physiology of several grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars, we tested plant cultivation in trenches under semi-controlled conditions. Vegetative growth of vines of two cultivars, Pinot Noir and Merlot, from different locations, were followed during a 3-year period. Roots of trench-grown vines grew widely, leading to a root architecture closer to that observed under field conditions than that of potted vines. In addition, the root system could be sampled exhaustively for analyses. Although morphologically different, vines of the two cultivars exhibited similar patterns in dry matter production during the whole period, except at early flowering in year 3. Surprisingly, perennial parts accounted for this difference, though both cultivars were grafted onto the same SO4 rootstock clone. Consistently, vines exhibited root necrosis at any sampling date throughout spring, this process affecting more roots for the Pinot Noir/SO4 combination than for Merlot/SO4.

Partitioning and mobilization of starch and N reserves in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

“…In the roots, starch concentration decreased upon spring growth. Since this reduction was moderate compared to that of starch content, the root necrosis process reported previously (Zapata et al, 2001) is likely to be a major event accounting for the carbohydrate loss in the early stages of the growing season. In addition, bleeding sap should contribute Year 3 Figure 6.…”

“…Plants were fed daily from the bleeding sap stage (mid March) until leaf fall (late October) with a standard nutrient solution (Co. ıc and Lesaint, 1971) by means of a drip system. In those conditions, vine growth was very strong (Zapata et al, 2001) and reproductive characteristics in the third growing season were similar to those of vineyard-grown plants (Zapata et al, 2003).…”

“…Cuttings of Pinot noir grapevine grafted onto SO 4 (clone 5) rootstock were planted in trenches and grown in a greenhouse under semi-controlled conditions during 3 years (Zapata et al, 2001). Plants were fed daily from the bleeding sap stage (mid March) until leaf fall (late October) with a standard nutrient solution (Co. ıc and Lesaint, 1971) by means of a drip system.…”

“…Accordingly, fine roots are most effective in mineral uptake (Murisier, 1996), but they start to differentiate and develop only several weeks after bud burst (Zapata et al, 2001), root growth flush peaking at or about anthesis (Roubelakis-Angelakis and Kliewer, 1992). Thus, nitrogen remobilization upon spring growth might be the major process accounting for N allocation to the growing tissues of vines, at least until flowering.…”

“…Vegetative (including root) growth, dry matter partitioning, and reproductive development of grapevines in trenches under semi-controlled conditions have been described recently (Zapata et al, 2001(Zapata et al, , 2003. This experimental design has been further used to investigate starch-and total-N partitioning as well as their translocation from the permanent to the annual upper organs.…”