Impact Of Water Deficit Stress Research Articles

Unraveling the impact of water deficit stress on nutritional quality and defense response of tomato genotypes.

Water deficit stress triggers various physiological and biochemical changes in plants, substantially affecting both overall plant defense response and thus nutritional quality of tomatoes. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant defense response and nutritional quality of different tomato genotypes under water deficit stress. In this study, six tomato genotypes were used and subjected to water deficit stress by withholding water for eight days under glass house conditions. Various physiological parameters from leaves and biochemical parameters from tomato fruits were measured to check the effect of antioxidant defense response and nutritional value. Multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) was used for the selection of genotypes with improved defense response and nutritional value under water deficit stress condition. Results indicated that all physiological parameters declined under stress conditions compared to the control. Notably, NBH-362 demonstrated resilience to water deficit stress, improving both defense response and nutritional quality which is evident by an increase in proline (16.91%), reducing sugars (20.15%), total flavonoids (10.43%), superoxide dismutase (24.65%), peroxidase (14.7%), and total antioxidant capacity (29.9%), along with a decrease in total oxidant status (4.38%) under stress condition. Overall, the findings suggest that exposure to water deficit stress has the potential to enhance the nutritional quality of tomatoes. However, the degree of this enhancement is contingent upon the distinct genetic characteristics of various tomato genotypes. Furthermore, the promising genotype (NBH-362) identified in this study holds potential for future utilization in breeding programs.

Effect of water deficit stress during fruit cultivation on the carbon stable isotopes of organic acids in Japanese apricots and liqueur prepared from these fruits

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the impact of water deficit stress during fruit cultivation on the δ 13C values of citric acid and malic acid in Japanese apricots at different ripeness stages and their resulting liqueurs. Our experiments show that water deficit stress increases the δ 13C values of citric acid and malic acid in tree-ripened fruits, counteracting the typical decrease during ripening. However, water deficit treatment has a minimal effect on the δ 13C values of organic acids in green fruits. Regardless of fruit ripeness or water status, the δ 13C values of organic acids in fruits are directly reflected in the resulting liqueurs. Overall, water deficit stress during fruit cultivation has the potential to promote similarity in the δ 13C values of organic acids across fruits at different ripeness levels, reducing variations among liqueurs derived from fruits of varying ripeness levels.

Water deficit stress changes in physiological, biochemical and antioxidant characteristics of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.)

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of water deficit stress on the seed yield and its components, physiological functions, fatty acid content and compositions, essential oil (EO) content and compositions, phenolic acids and flavonoids amounts, and antioxidant activities of anise seeds. Plants evaluations were performed under well-watered (WW), moderate water deficit stressed (MWDS), and severe water deficit stressed (SWDS). The results revealed that SWDS significantly reduced seed yield, branch number per plant, seed number, umbel number, and thousand seed weight. Water deficit stress also caused a decrease in chlorophyll content, relative water content, quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and cell membrane stability, while increasing leaf temperature. The analysis of fatty acid composition indicated that petroselinic acid was the main fatty acid and its percentage increased by 8.75% and 14.60% under MWDS and SWDS, respectively. Furthermore, MWDS increased the EO content by 1.48 times, while it decreased by 41.32% under SWDS. The chemotype of EO was altered from t-anethole/estragole in WW seeds to t-anethole/β-bisabolene in treated seeds. Higher levels of total phenolics were detected in stressed seeds. Water deficit stress increased the amount of the major class, naringin, by 1.40 and 1.26 times under MWDS and SWDS. The evaluation of antioxidant activity through reducing power, DPPH, and chelating ability assays indicated that stressed seeds exhibited the highest activity. The study's findings suggest that the application of drought stress before harvesting can regulate the production of bioactive compounds, which can affect the industrial and nutritional values of anise seeds.

Promising Bioregulators for Higher Water Productivity and Oil Quality of Chia under Deficit Irrigation in Semiarid Regions.

Appropriate water management practices are essential for the successful cultivation of chia in water-scarce situations of semiarid regions. This is highly essential when new crops such as chia are introduced for ensuring diversity and water saving. Therefore, field trials (2020-21 and 2021-22) were conducted to understand the impact of deficit irrigation and bioregulators (BRs) on the seed yield, water productivity, and oil quality of chia. The effect of foliar application of BRs such as thiourea (TU; 400 ppm), salicylic acid (SA; 1.0 mM), potassium nitrate (KN; 0.15%), potassium silicate (KS; 100 ppm), kaolin (KO; 5%), and sodium benzoate (SB; 200 ppm) were monitored at different levels of irrigation: 100 (I100), 75 (I75), 50 (I50), and 25 (I25) percent of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE). Deficit irrigation at I25, I50, and I75 led to 55.3, 20.1, and 3.3% reductions in seed yield; 42.5, 22.5, and 4.2% in oil yield; and 58.9, 24.5, and 5.7% in omega-3 yield, respectively, relative to I100. Bioregulators could reduce the adverse impact of water deficit stress on seed, oil, and omega-3 yield. However, their beneficial effect was more conspicuous under mild water stress (I75), as revealed by higher seed yield (4.3-6.9%), oil yield (4.4-7.1%), and omega-3 yield (4.7-8.5%) over control (I100 + no BRs). Further, BRs (KN, TU, and SA) maintained oil quality in terms of linolenic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, even under mild stress (I75). Foliar application of KN, TU, and SA could save water to an extent of 36-40%. Therefore, the adverse impact of deficit irrigation on seed, oil, and omega-3 yields of chia could be minimized using BRs such as KN, TU, and SA, which can also contribute to improved water productivity.

Impact of water deficit stress on traits influencing the drought tolerance and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Impact of water deficit stress on traits influencing the drought tolerance and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Intraspecific divergence in phytochemical characteristics and drought tolerance of two carvacrol-rich Origanum vulgare subspecies: subsp. hirtum and subsp. gracile

Oregano, Origanum vulgare L., is a well-reputed medicinal herb used globally in cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. Essential oil (EO) composition and productivity of oregano subspecies are highly affected by water deficit stress. Here, a two-year (2018 and 2019) greenhouse study was conducted to comparatively investigate the impact of water deficit stress on biochemical traits and EO profiles of two carvacrol-rich subspecies of O. vulgare (subsp. gracile and subsp. hirtum). The pot-grown plants were subjected to four water stress treatments based on field capacity (FC) method, i.e., control condition (100 % FC), mild stress (75 % FC), moderate stress (50 % FC) and severe stress (35 % FC). Overall, the EO content of subsp. hirtum (up to 3.25 % (v/w)) was higher than that of subsp. gracile (up to 1.92 % (v/w)). Compared with control, the EO contents increased by over 75 % under moderate water stress. Carvacrol was present in the EO profiles of both subspecies as the major component. Its highest content in the subsp. hirtum was achieved under mild water stress (i.e., 60 % (in 2018) and 68 % (in 2019)), whereas in the subsp. gracile, it was obtained under severe (55 % (in 2018)) and moderate (51 % (2019)) stresses. Overall, the subsp. hirtum showed higher dry weight, EO and carvacrol content than subsp. gracile. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed among dry weight and EO content (r = 0.74, p < 0.01). On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between carvacrol and p-cymene content (r = −0.60, p < 0.01). Water stress treatments inevitably reduced fresh weight, dry weight, relative water content and total chlorophyll content in both subspecies. However, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activity, and also proline content was changed in a subspecies-specific manner. The results of the present study enabled selection of the subsp. hirtum as a desirable prototype for relevant cultivation and prospective breeding programs.

Impact of water deficit stress in maize: Phenology and yield components

Fifteen million farmers in India engaged in Maize cultivation. India would require 45 MMT of Maize by 2022. But, only 15% of cultivated area of maize is under irrigation and water shortage has been a challenge for sustainability of maize production. Water deficit stress (WDS) during pre-flowering and grain filling stages massively affects the plant performance due to imprecise traits function. Thus, the effect of WDS on non-drought tolerant (NDT) and drought tolerant (DT) maize lines were investigated. WDS increased the flowering days, days to maturity, anthesis silk interval, decreased the leaf number, abnormal expression of secondary stress responsive traits, loss of normal root architecture which overall lead to a reduction in GY/ha. WDS at flowering and grain filling stage leads to significant yield penalty especially in NDT lines than DT lines. The yield penalty was ranged from 34.28 to 66.15% in NDT and 38.48 to 55.95% in DT lines due to WDS. Using multiple statistics, traits which improve WDS tolerance in maize were identified viz; number of leaves, number of stomata on lower surface of leaf, leaf angle at ear forming node internodal length between 3rd and 4th leaf from top, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, ear per plants, leaf senescence, pollen stainability, root fresh weight and root length. These traits would help in trait specific breeding in maize for WDS tolerance.

Review of water deficit mediated changes in vine and berry physiology; Consequences for the optimization of irrigation strategies

The increasing risk of water deficit stress due to global warming subjects winegrowers of traditional rain fed viticulture regions to new challenges regarding vine water status assessment and possible drought mitigation strategies, such as irrigation.This review summarizes the most recent studies on the impact of water deficit stress on vine and berry physiology; it discusses the latest scientific advances regarding hormonal and hydraulic regulation and segmentation and addresses the current debate on iso/an-isohydricity within vine cultivars. Latest literature on irrigation frequency, water stress memory and the impact of abiotic factors such as VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit), radiation, temperature and canopy architecture on vine physiology and water use, raise important questions on water status assessment and the implementation of irrigation strategies. Practical consequences regarding the effects of vine water regime on vine water regulatory mechanisms are discussed. Recent technical and scientific advances shed new light on how site specific irrigation strategies matching production objectives could improve vineyard water use.

Seed yield and oil quality of sunflower, safflower, and sesame under different levels of irrigation water availability

Water deficit stress is a common environmental factor affecting growth and yield of crops, but comparative studies on quantitative and qualitative characteristics among oilseed crops do not exist in the literature. A three-year field experiment was conducted in a calcareous soil of East Azerbaijan, Iran to determine the impact of water deficit stress on a number of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Four levels of irrigation, i.e., 40, 60, 80, and 100% of potential evapotranspiration (PET) were applied during the growing season. Low water availability significantly decreased seed yield in all oilseed crops, followed by a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) content. Averaged over irrigation water availability levels, sunflower showed the greatest reduction in seed yield by 16.3%, followed by sesame (12.8%) and safflower (9.4%). The seed yield reduction in all crops was mainly due to a reduction in seed weight and a reduction in seed number in capitula or capsules. Averaged over irrigation water availability levels, sunflower showed the greatest reduction in oil yield by 22.5%, followed by sesame (13.3%) and safflower (10.2%). Mild lack of irrigation water availability (80% of PET) neither affected negatively nor improved oil percentage, particularly in safflower and sesame. Severe lack of irrigation water availability (40% of PET) significantly reduced oil percentage, particularly in sunflower. A significant reduction in oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), linolenic acid (LNA), and palmitic acid (PA) content due to low availability of irrigation water was observed in all crops. Apart from breeding efforts for improving crop resistance to drought, management practices should be considered to reduce drought-related issues in major oilseed crops.

A Numerical Simulation Model for Highbush Blueberry Under Drought Stress

This investigation considered the problem of determining irrigation conditions under which the impact of water deficit stress on a blueberry plant would be minimal. Specifically, and as a first methodological step, we solved the problem of simulating numerically the soil-water-plant system, assuming a scenario of water stress resulting from drought. The main justification for this investigation is the difficulty of obtaining experimental data, and the almost total absence of applications of this methodology to stress conditions for this crop. The simulations are based on the Richards equation with an explicit term, which models blueberry root water uptake, and were executed with HYDRUS-1D software. This software, the Richards equation, and the numerical values used have been widely validated by agronomists in experimental studies of similar crops. Two soil types were simulated: a clay soil and a sandy loam. It was possible to simulate realistic irrigation conditions for a blueberry crop in a scenario of water stress resulting from drought. The results obtained provided sufficient justification of the methodology for subsequent application in field studies.

Arbuscular mycorrhizae alleviate water deficit stress and improve antioxidant response, more than nitrogen fixing bacteria or chemical fertilizer in the evening primrose

We treated the evening primrose grown under moderate or severe water deficit with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae), and nitrogen fixing bacteria (Azospirillum lipoferum), or with a chemical fertilizer (urea + triple superphosphate). The experiment was conducted at an arid and a semi-arid experimental station with plants grown in the field, after greenhouse propagation. Experiments were conducted in a split factorial layout within a randomized complete block design with three replications, at each location. Our results show that under physiological stress conditions caused by water deficit, the evening primrose adopts typical strategies to reduce the negative impact of water deficit stress. Some of these strategies include antioxidant enzyme synthesis, which protect from reactive oxygen species, a decrease in overall growth, but relative increase in root, and an increase in plant antioxidant pigments. Water deficit significantly reduced plant total biomass and chlorophyll a (especially in the arid region), but it increased the root to shoot ratio, chlorophyll b, carotenoid, anthocyanin, proline, the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide (especially in the arid region). The application of the chemical fertilizers and biological inoculants in all conditions decreased H2O2 and antioxidant enzymes activity. The arbuscular mycorrhizae alleviated the physiological stress response more than the nitrogen fixing bacteria or chemical fertilizer by increasing anti-oxidant pigments concentration, total biomass and root to shoot ratio of evening primrose under water deficit stress. Therefore, arbuscular mycorrhizae should be considered an essential component of evening primrose cultivation in arid or semi-arid climates to alleviate moderate to severe water deficit.

Impact of water-deficit stress on tritrophic interactions in a wheat-aphid-parasitoid system.

Increasing temperature and CO2 concentrations can alter tritrophic interactions in ecosystems, but the impact of increasingly severe drought on such interactions is not well understood. We examined the response of a wheat-aphid-parasitoid system to variation in water-deficit stress levels. Our results showed that arid area clones of the aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), tended to have longer developmental times compared to semiarid and moist area clones, and the development of S. avenae clones tended to be slower with increasing levels of water-deficit. Body sizes of S. avenae clones from all areas decreased with increasing water-deficit levels, indicating their declining adaptation potential under drought. Compared to arid area clones, moist area clones of S. avenae had a higher frequency of backing under severe water stress only, but a higher frequency of kicking under well-watered conditions only, suggesting a water-deficit level dependent pattern of resistance against the parasitoid, Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead). The number of S. avenae individuals attacked by the parasitoid in 10 min showed a tendency to decrease with increasing water-deficit levels. Clones of S. avenae tended to have lower parasitism rates under treatments with higher water-deficit levels. The development of the parasitoid tended to be slower under higher levels of water-deficit stress. Thus, the bottom-up effects of water-deficit stressed plants were negative on S. avenae. However, the top-down effects via parasitoids were compromised by water-deficit, which could favor the growth of aphid populations. Overall, the first trophic level under water-deficit stress was shown to have an indirect and negative impact on the third trophic level parasitoid, suggesting that parasitoids could be increasingly vulnerable in future warming scenarios.

The impact of elevated CO2 and water deficit stress on growth and photosynthesis of juvenile cacao (Theobroma cacao L.).

Atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to rise and is predicted to reach approximately 700 ppm by 2100. Some predictions suggest that the dry season in West Africa could be extended with climate change. This study examined the effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water deficit on growth and photosynthesis of juvenile cacao. Light-saturated photosynthesis (Pmax), quantum efficiency, and intrinsic water-use efficiency increased significantly in response to elevated CO2, as did a range of growth and development responses (e.g. leaf area and leaf number), but the magnitude of the increase was dependent on the water treatment. Stomatal index was significantly greater in the elevated CO2 treatment; an atypical response which may be a reflection of the environment in which cacao evolved. This study shows a positive effect of elevated CO2 on juvenile cacao which may help to alleviate some of the negative impacts of water deficit stress.

Impact of water deficit stress on biomass production of different gladiolus cultivars under rainfed condition

Among the environmental stresses, water deficit stress was recognized to be one of the most adverse factors for plant growth and productivity. The study aimed to comparatively evaluate impact of water deficit stress on biomass of seven cultivars of gladiolus in terms of leaf area duration and net assimilation rate under rainfed conditions in northeastern region of India. Also, productions in terms of marketable spikes were compared. The parameters were measured using standard procedures. Comparatively higher leaf area duration (116 days) and net assimilation rate were found in cultivars Aarti (116 days and1.62 gcm-2day-1x10-3 respectively) and Suchitra (98.0 days and 1.10 gcm-2day-1x10-3) which account for their higher biomass production with larger spike size with good numbers of flowers. The highest marketable spikes (71111.11 spikes ha-1) was found in cultivar Aarti followed by Suchitra (68148.14 spikes ha-1) which might be due to its comparatively higher biomass production and less deviation, during stress condition, from normal characteristics. The tolerant cultivars are those that can adapt to the change without much change in their normal growth. And the responses of those species are commercially acceptable that promote adaptation without compromising much with the plant growth and crop production.

Toward Coalescing Gene Expression and Function with QTLs of Water-Deficit Stress in Cotton.

Cotton exhibits moderately high vegetative tolerance to water-deficit stress but lint production is restricted by the available rainfed and irrigation capacity. We have described the impact of water-deficit stress on the genetic and metabolic control of fiber quality and production. Here we examine the association of tentative consensus sequences (TCs) derived from various cotton tissues under irrigated and water-limited conditions with stress-responsive QTLs. Three thousand sixteen mapped sequence-tagged-sites were used as anchored targets to examine sequence homology with 15,784 TCs to test the hypothesis that putative stress-responsive genes will map within QTLs associated with stress-related phenotypic variation more frequently than with other genomic regions not associated with these QTLs. Approximately 1,906 of 15,784 TCs were mapped to the consensus map. About 35% of the annotated TCs that mapped within QTL regions were genes involved in an abiotic stress response. By comparison, only 14.5% of the annotated TCs mapped outside these QTLs were classified as abiotic stress genes. A simple binomial probability calculation of this degree of bias being observed if QTL and non-QTL regions are equally likely to contain stress genes was P (x ≥ 85) = 7.99 × 10−15. These results suggest that the QTL regions have a higher propensity to contain stress genes.

Leaf cuticular lipids on the Shandong and Yukon ecotypes of saltwater cress, Eutrema salsugineum, and their response to water deficiency and impact on cuticle permeability

The impact of water-deficit stress on leaf cuticular waxes and cutin monomers, and traits associated with cuticle permeability were examined in Shandong and Yukon ecotypes of Eutrema salsugineum (syn. Thellungiella salsuginea). Although Shandong exhibits glaucous leaves, and Yukon is non-glaucous, wax amounts on non-stressed Yukon leaves were 4.6-fold higher than on Shandong, due mainly to Yukon's eightfold higher wax fatty acids, especially the C22 and C24 acid homologues. Water deficit caused a 26.9% increase in total waxes on Shandong leaves, due mainly to increased C22 and C24 acids; and caused 10.2% more wax on Yukon, due mainly to an increase in wax alkanes. Total cutin monomers on non-stressed leaves of Yukon were 58.3% higher than on Shandong. Water deficit caused a 28.2% increase in total cutin monomers on Shandong, whereas total cutin monomers were not induced on Yukon. With or without stress, more abundant cuticle lipids were generally associated with lower water loss rates, lower chlorophyll efflux rates and an extended time before water deficit-induced wilting. In response to water deficit, Shandong showed elevated transcription of genes encoding elongase subunits, consistent with the higher stress induction of acids by Shandong. Yukon's higher induction of CER1 and CER3 transcripts may explain why alkanes increased most on Yukon after water deficit. Eutrema, with its diverse cuticle lipids and responsiveness, provides a valuable genetic resource for identifying new genes and alleles effecting cuticle metabolism, and lays groundwork for studies of the cuticle's role in extreme stress tolerance.

Evaluation of indigenous potato varieties, advanced clones and exotic genotypes against water deficit stress under sub-tropical environment

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of water deficit stress on yield performance of forty potato genotypes, comprising 34 indigenous varieties, 2 advanced stage clones and 4 exotic accessions. Control plots received four irrigations and water stress plots received three irrigations. Kufri Arun (33.0 and 35.6 t ha−1) produced highest marketable and total tuber yield followed by Kufri Pukhraj (30.7 and 34.9 t ha−1) under stress. Kufri Sutlej (30.1 and 32.9 t ha−1) and Kufri Anand (29.4 and 33.8 t ha−1) produced statistically similar marketable and total tuber yield and appeared at 3rd rank. Better yield performance, least fluctuation in average tuber weight was also indirectly reflected in modified stress tolerance index, which was highest in Kufri Arun (2.747) followed by Kufri Pukhraj (2.675), Kufri Anand (2.401) and Kufri Sutlej (2.119) as compared to average value of 1.042 in all other genotypes. The promising (high yielding) varieties namely Kufri Arun, Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Anand were also among the low proline accumulators (181–191 μg g−1 fr. wt.) and lowest in Kufri Sutlej (120 μg g−1 fr. wt.) under water deficit. Foliar damage due to frost enhanced under water deficit marginally by 5 %, but remained lowest in Kufri Arun (20 %), moderate in Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Sutlej (by 10 % each) followed by Kufri Anand (15 %) and highest in Kufri Khasigaro (95 %). A possibility of cross tolerance to both water deficit as well as frost particularly in Kufri Arun has been suggested.

Impact of water deficit stress on biochemical characteristics of safflower cultivars

Water deficit stress is one of the severe limitations of crop growth especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world as it effect the plant growth at all stages of development. In the present study, four safflower genotypes Esfahan native, Esfahan-14, PI537,598 and IL111 were tested for their growth and crop yield under water-deficit stress. A detailed biochemical analysis was carried out at various levels of irrigation to find out the genotypic variation and the activity of several enzymes known to play significant role under drought stress. A split plot experiment based on randomized complete blocks design was conducted at three levels of irrigation: 100% (normal water requirement for safflower), 75% and 50%. A significant increase in the activity of SOD, CAT, GPX enzymes and the levels of ABA and proline was observed with an increase in the water stress level in the leaves of all the genotypes investigated. The highest increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and proline and ABA content with reduced electrolyte leakage was observed in the relatively drought tolerance native Esfahan cultivar. These results suggest that the cultivars that exhibit highest levels of antioxidant enzymes activity and proline and ABA content under water deficit conditions may provide better drought tolerance in safflower.

Vine water status is a key factor in grape ripening and vintage quality for red Bordeaux wine. How can it be assessed for vineyard management purposes?

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aims&lt;/strong&gt;: The impact of water deficit stress on vine shoot growth, berry weight, grape composition and overall vintage quality was investigated in Bordeaux vineyards. Methods for assessing water deficit stress were compared.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods and results&lt;/strong&gt;: Vine water status was assessed on three soil types during four vintages by means of stem water potential and carbon isotope discrimination measured on grape sugar. Regional water deficit was compared for a range of over 30 vintages by means of water balance modelling. It was shown that water deficit stress anticipated shoot growth slackening, limited berry weight and enhanced berry anthocyanin content. Berry sugar content was greatest when water deficit was mild. It was shown that stem water potential measurements and carbon isotope discrimination are accurate tools for assessing vine water status at plot scale. Seasonal water deficit at a regional scale can be correctly estimated by water balance models. Vintage quality in Bordeaux is determined by the intensity of water deficit stress rather than by the level of the temperatures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions&lt;/strong&gt;: Vine phenology and grape ripening are highly dependent on water uptake conditions. Mild water deficit stress enhances grape quality for the production of red wines. Vine water status can accurately be assessed by means of stem water potential or carbon isotope discrimination measured on grape sugars. Quality losses through severe water stress can be avoided through the use of drought-adapted plant material, appropriate canopy management, yield reduction or the implementation of deficit irrigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Significance and impact of the study&lt;/strong&gt;: This study shows the key role of water deficits in the production of quality grapes for red wine production. Methods for assessing vine water status are compared and discussed. Among many existing methods, the accuracy of stem water potential, carbon isotope discrimination measured on grape sugar and water balance modelling are emphasized.&lt;/p&gt;