Spatial Variability of Soil and Plant Water Status and Their Cascading Effects on Grapevine Physiology Are Linked to Berry and Wine Chemistry

Abstract

The relationships between differences in plant water status, induced by spatial variability in soil texture, and the changes in berry and wine composition were investigated in an irrigated Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinefera L.) vineyard for 2 years. A stratified and an equidistant grid were overlaid on the vineyard to characterize the soil texture by proximal sensing, soil sampling, and grapevine physiological and berry chemical development. Based on the midday stem water potential (stem) integrals, the vineyard was divided into two functional homogenous zones: Zone 1 with higher water stress and Zone 2 with lower water. Zone 1 consistently had lower stem , net carbon assimilation, and stomatal conductance in both years. Berry weight and titratable acidity were lower in Zone 1 at harvest. Zone 2 reached 26 and 24 • Bx total soluble solids (TSS) at harvest in Years 1 and 2, respectively, with higher TSS values of 30 and 27 • Bx in Zone 1. Ravaz index did not vary spatially. Fruits were harvested differentially in both years and vinified separately from the two zones. In Year 1, all berry skin anthocyanin derivatives, tri-, di-hydroxylated, and total anthocyanins concentrations were higher in Zone 2. However, in Year 2, only malvidin, tri-hydroxylated, and total anthocyanins were higher in Zone 1. There were no differences in wine flavonoids in Year 2 when harvest commenced earlier. In both years, stem , berry weight, and TSS were directly related to soil bulk electrical conductivity (EC). Our results indicated vineyard variability stemmed from soil texture that affected long-term plant water status which does not affect spatial variability of Ravaz Index. In conclusion, our work provides fundamental knowledge about the applicability of soil bulk EC sensing in the vineyards, and its potential directional utilization by connecting proximal soil sensing to spatial distribution of whole-plant physiological performance together with berry and wine chemistry.

Application of Fractions of Crop Evapotranspiration Affects Carbon Partitioning of Grapevine Differentially in a Hot Climate

“…anthesis), 50 leaves per treatment-replicate were collected, leaf blades were removed, and petioles were dried at 70°C in a forced air oven. Then, mineral nutrient analysis was carried out using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry by Dellavalle, Inc., Fresno, CA, United States, as reported elsewhere ( Yu et al, 2020 ). Total nitrogen (N) was determined via automated combustion analysis (method B-2.20), while phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (B), iron (Fe), and cuprum (Cu) were analyzed via nitric/perchloric acid digestion (method B-4.20) as described by Gavlak et al (1994) .…”

“…Therefore, deficit irrigation has emerged as a potential strategy to allow grapevine to withstand water shortage during the growing season without yield loss and maintaining the berry composition ( Chaves et al, 2010 ; Costa et al, 2016 ). Severe restrictions of water availability may accelerate sugar accumulation in grape berry in hot climates ( Bonada et al, 2015 ; Zarrouk et al, 2016 ) and result in adverse effects on yield ( Nelson et al, 2016 ), fruit composition ( Brillante et al, 2018 ), or wine composition ( Yu et al, 2020 ). However, a sustained moderate water deficit may improve canopy microclimate, increase water use efficiency, control vigor, and reduce berry size improving berry quality by means of enhancement of sugars and flavonoids in red wine grape ( Santesteban et al, 2011 ; Zarrouk et al, 2012 ; Cook et al, 2015 ; Martínez-Lüscher et al, 2020 ).…”

“…However, a sustained moderate water deficit may improve canopy microclimate, increase water use efficiency, control vigor, and reduce berry size improving berry quality by means of enhancement of sugars and flavonoids in red wine grape ( Santesteban et al, 2011 ; Zarrouk et al, 2012 ; Cook et al, 2015 ; Martínez-Lüscher et al, 2020 ). Nevertheless, the final berry composition and consequent wine quality are highly dependent upon the proper control of carbohydrate partitioning, which balance the growth and metabolism of the source:sink organs ( Yu et al, 2020 ).…”

Mitigating Heat Wave and Exposure Damage to “Cabernet Sauvignon” Wine Grape With Partial Shading Under Two Irrigation Amounts

“…Mild water deficits may enhance grape ripening, through the re-concentration of the berry contents or improved grape composition through the synthesis of stress-related metabolites ( Chaves et al, 2010 ; Kuhn et al, 2014 ). However, excessive water deficits in hot climates may lead to deleterious effect on fruit quality ( Brillante et al, 2017 ; Martínez-Lüscher et al, 2017a ; Yu and Kurtural, 2020 ; Yu et al, 2020 ). High temperatures may exacerbate water deficits by increasing vapor pressure deficit, thus increasing evapotranspiration.…”

“…In grapevine, in-season yield loss may be mediated through reductions in berry size, at first, and a severe shriveling and bunch stem necrosis if high water deficits persist ( Krasnow et al, 2010 ; Hall et al, 2011 ; Cook et al, 2015 ; Yu and Kurtural, 2020 ). Furthermore, in hot climates, post-veraison water deficits led to a diminution of anthocyanin content ( Martínez-Lüscher et al, 2017a ), modulation of anthocyanin profile toward di-hydroxylated anthocyanidins ( Yu et al, 2016 ) with rapid degradation of proanthocyanins of grape berry and wine ( Yu et al, 2020 ).…”