The impact of dynamic meteorological conditions in the ATU Gagauzia on the growth and development of grapevines

Abstract

The southern region of the Republic of Moldova, specifically ATU Gagauzia, offers highly favourable conditions for cultivating diverse grape varieties with multiple harvest utilization options, including wine, brandy, juices, and fresh or dried consumption. Grapevines, adaptable yet sensitive to environmental changes, were the focus of our analysis regarding meteorological fluctuations' impact on the growth of grape shoots and the development of leaf surfaces. Our research aimed to assess the changes in meteorological conditions in the ATU Gagauzia and their impact on the growth dynamics of grapevine shoots, as well as the development of leaf surfaces, yields of introduced clones of European selection. Temperature and precipitation levels significantly impacted the growth of grapevine shoots and the development of shoot leaf surfaces, vines, and vineyards. Aligning these factors with the requirements of grapevines optimizes the growth and development of the annual grapevine growth. Meteorological conditions varied across study years, benefiting grapevine growth in certain years (2017-2018) but proving less favourable in others due (2019-2020) to reduced precipitation and higher temperatures during the growing season. The research findings indicate that the growth parameters of shoots, the development of leaf surfaces, LAI, and yield of clone R5 Cabernet Sauvignon in the agroecological conditions of ATU Gagauzia depend on both the rootstock variety and the fluctuating meteorological conditions. It has been established that when grafting the investigated clone onto RхR 101-14, growth indicators, the development of annual shoot growth, leaf surface and yields were lower compared to the vines grafted onto BxR Kober 5BB. This difference was evident throughout the entire research period but was particularly pronounced during periods of adverse meteorological conditions. Specifically, in 2020, these indicators decreased by 1.1-1.2 times compared to the experimental option BxR Kober 5BB.