Response of potted grapevines to increasing soil copper concentration

Abstract

Background and Aims: Copper accumulation in soil may promote phytotoxicity in grapevines. Nutritional implications of potted vines to increasing concentrations of copper (Cu) in either clay loam soil or clay loam soil mixed with 85% sand were tested on Vitis vinifera (L.) cv Sangiovese and crop toxicity threshold and symptoms determined. Methods and Results: Soils were mixed at planting with Cu at the rates (mg Cu/kg) of 0 (control, native soil Cu only), 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000, and non‐bearing vines were grown in these for two seasons. Reduction of root growth was observed after addition of ≥400 mg Cu/kg to both soils; reduction of shoot growth, leaf number and chlorosis of leaf edges were detected only in sand‐enriched soil. Root Cu concentration increased in response to soil Cu addition. Unlike that of leaf Cu and N, the amount of P and Fe (in both soils) and Mg and Ca (in sand‐enriched soil only) were reduced by soil Cu. Conclusion: Vines grown in sand‐enriched soil tolerated lower concentrations of Cu than in clay loam soil, probably because of the lower nutritional status and the higher root Cu concentration. Significance of the Study: Results provide information on the concentration of soil Cu that grapevine can tolerate and on the nutrients involved in the response to toxic levels of soil Cu in clay loam and sandy clay loam soils.

Heavy Metals in Vineyards and Orchard Soils

“…The chemical and physical characteristics of the Italian soils allow to incorporate high amount of Cu (up to 1000 mg kg -1 ) with no toxic effect on pear tree (TOSELLI et al, 2008) and grapevine (TOSELLI et al, 2009). In fact, after one growing season, a Cu toxic effect was observed in pear and grape grown in soil with a 90% sand composition, while no effect on tree growth was found in clayloam soil after an application rate of 1000 mg Cu kg -1 .…”

“…Copper was found in the upper horizon, while at 0.20-0.50 m soil depth no difference among cultivation was found, because of the calcareous soils responsible for the prompt immobilization of free Cu, that prevent any movements of the cation. Beside the DTPA fraction, also the total Cu was found higher in pear and vine-cultivated plots compared with vegetable-cultivated soils, because the continuous application of Cu increased the soil inactive Cu forms (TOSELLI et al, 2009).…”

“…In both pear and grape, leaf Cu concentration was not associated with Cu toxicity. However, in both sand and clay-loam soils, a linear reduction of microbial activity was found in response to the increase of Cu addition rate, showing a higher susceptibility to Cu toxicity of soil microbes than tree (TOSELLI et al, 2009). …”

“…For example, regarding the Cu in soils of traditional wine-growing regions of the world, 20 to 500 mg Cu kg -1 are reported in France (FLORES-VÉLES et al, 1996;BRUN et al, 1998); 35 to 600 mg kg -1 in Spain (ARIAS et al, 2004); 2 to 375 mg kg -1 in Italy (TOSELLI et al, 2009); 100 to 210 mg kg -1 in Greece (VAVOULIDOU et al, 2005) and 40 to 250 mg kg -1 in Australia (PIETRZAK;MCPHAIL, 2004). In most cases these Cu concentrations are related to foliar applications of copper fungicides and, often, may be toxic to plants.…”

“…The excess of Cu in plants shoots can decrease the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and the rate of C fixation, and can increase the oxidative stress at cellular level (CAMBROLLÉ et al, 2013;CAMBROLLÉ et al, 2015). All this conditions can reduce fruit tree absorption of water and nutrients, whith change of nutrient concentration within the plant, lower growth, especially in young fruit trees, transplanted in soils with high concentration of Cu (TOSELLI et al, 2009;MIOTTO et al, 2014). In addition, transport and accumulation of heavy metals to the fruits may have negative effects on the productivity and composition of the crops, and finally on human health.…”