Abstract
The production and quality of grapes are determined by the hydric and nutritional status of the vine. In modern viticulture, the interface between grapevine and soil is represented by the rootstock, which modulates the uptake of water and nutrients. Thus, selection of new rootstocks for abiotic stress tolerance represents an adaptation strategy for viticulture to the new environmental conditions imposed by climate change. The aim of this work is to evaluate the water-use efficiency (WUE) and the nutritional status of a selection of 30 new rootstock genotypes, originating from several breeding programs. WUE and gas exchange were measured for each genotype in two environments characterized by different water availability, and the levels of N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the leaf blades were determined during the phenological stages of flowering and ripening. Water availability was different in the two environments, affecting gas exchange, with mean values of carbon assimilation of 10.43 ± 0.32 and 3.84 ± 0.34 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, respectively. Genotypes were classified according to their water stress tolerance, vigor, and affinity for macronutrients and micronutrients. A total of 14 genotypes showed tolerance to water stress, and 10 of them reported high vigor and carbon assimilation. Furthermore, the majority of water-stress-tolerant genotypes had greater affinity for Mg than for K. In further studies, the most promising rootstocks will be evaluated in grafting combination with Vitis vinifera.
Highlights
In the new environmental conditions caused by climate change, adaptation of viticulture to abiotic stresses is becoming a crucial issue to preserve the production and quality of grapes and wines
The water and nutritional status of rootstocks were affected by environmental conditions, as well as by the genotype
We identified promising rootstocks for abiotic stress tolerance
Summary
In the new environmental conditions caused by climate change, adaptation of viticulture to abiotic stresses is becoming a crucial issue to preserve the production and quality of grapes and wines. Tolerance of grapevine to abiotic stresses depends on the cultivar, but is mediated by the rootstock genotype [1]. 15 rootstocks were studied for 5 years in terms of growth and grape production, in grafting combination with two scion varieties (Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon). The effect of rootstock genotype and its interactions on grape yield has been assessed to be 13.29%, while the contribution to sugar content has been evaluated at 14.80% [2]. The effect of rootstocks on the yield and quality of grapes can be explained by the different uptake of water and nutrients from the soil and the vigor induced to the scion [3,4]
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