Gas Exchange Relations of Ungrafted Grapevines (cv. Carménère) Growing Under Irrigated Field Conditions

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the leaf gas exchange relations and water-use efficiency (WUE) of ungrafted Carmenere (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines growing under field conditions and different levels of water stress. Stomatal conductance (g s ), transpiration (E), net CO 2 assimilation (A N ) and stem water potential (Ψs) were measured at midday in a drip-irrigated commercial vineyard located in the Maule Valley (Chile) during three growing seasons (2005 to 2009). In addition, the instantaneous (A N /E) and intrinsic (A N /g s ) water-use efficiencies and stomatal sensitivity factor (k) were estimated for the own-rooted grapevines. In this study a significant non-linear relationship was observed between A N and g s (r 2 = 0.82), with values of A N decreasing from 14.9 to 3.5 μmol/m 2/ sec as g s diminished from 0.5 to 0.05 mol/m 2 /sec. This resulted in a progressive increase in WUEi (intrinsic water use efficiency). A significant linear relationship was observed between Ψs and g s (r 2 = 0.39) for measurements taken before and after veraison, with an increasing scattering from -1.6 to -0.4 MPa. Finally, k decreased as water stress increased, with values of 234 and 120 for no and severe water stress respectively, while k ranged from 264 to 480 and 255 to 297 for the measurements taken before and after veraison respectively. Based on the results obtained in the present study, the cultivar Carmenere could be classified as drought tolerant at low water potentials, with a large range of physiological parameters changing in response to water stress.