Abstract
Seasonal differences in weather conditions cause marked variation in grapevine yield. However, quantitative relationships between various yield components and climatic factors at field scales are still lacking. By using a long-term field trial, we quantified the correlation between weather conditions during the key development stages and the yield components of Vitis vinifera L. Sauvignon blanc growing under cool-climate conditions. A long-term phenology and yield monitoring trial using both two-cane and four-cane trained vertically shoot positioned (VSP) Sauvignon blanc vines was established in four vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand in 2004. Phenology, bunch number, berry mass, yield and meteorology records were collated. A multivariable mixed linear model was used to assess the relationship between various yield components and weather conditions. The critical periods for each yield component and weather factor were optimised based on the maximum likelihood returned from the mixed linear model. The optimised critical periods of temperature for all yield components occurred mainly before 50 % flowering either in the previous season (during inflorescence initiation) and the current season, indicating the importance of the pre-flowering period on yield formation. Out of all weather factors, maximum daily temperature had the largest effect on bunch number and overall yield and strongly influenced berry number and bunch mass. Rainfall near flowering time had a negative effect on berry mass and bunch mass, but post-flowering rainfall had a strong positive effect. The statistical model explained 60 to 85 percent of the seasonal variations in bunch number, berry number, berry and bunch mass and yield per vine.
Highlights
Seasonal or inter-seasonal factors, especially temperature, radiation and water status, have pronounced effects on the fruitfulness and overall yield of grapevine (Buttrose, 1969b; Buttrose, 1974)
Using data from a long-term yield monitoring experiment with meteorology data, this study quantified the relationship between grapevine yield components and weather conditions during critical periods of grapevine development
The optimised critical periods of temperature for berry number, berry mass and bunch mass all mainly occurred before 50 % flowering of the current season and for bunch number they mainly occurred before 50 % flowering of the previous season
Summary
Seasonal or inter-seasonal factors, especially temperature, radiation and water status, have pronounced effects on the fruitfulness and overall yield of grapevine (Buttrose, 1969b; Buttrose, 1974). An undifferentiated mass of cells (anlagen, potential bunches for the following season) develop in the basal node approximately 15 days before bloom, with approximately 12 expanded leaves on the shoot (Swanepoel and Archer, 1988; Watt, 2010; Watt et al, 2008). This process progresses along the developing shoot as further leaves appear (Vasconcelos et al 2009).
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