Articles
Rootstock and irrigation modify berry aroma characteristics in Merlot and Sangiovese grapevines
Article number
1346_76
Pages
611 – 618
Language
English
Abstract
Rootstocks can modify scion response to water stress in grapevines, but little is known about the combined effect of rootstock and deficit irrigation on berry quality.
An experiment was performed on 5-year-old potted grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. Merlot and Sangiovese) to compare the effect of two rootstocks (SO4 and 1103P) and three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, FI; regulated deficit irrigation 1, RDI 1; regulated deficit irrigation 2, RDI 2) on fruit quality and their aroma characteristics.
Cultivar and rootstock combinations were subjected to water stress from fruit set through veraison and from veraison through harvest in RDI 1 and RDI 2 vines, respectively, whereas they were fully irrigated for the rest of the irrigation period.
Control grapevines (FI) were fully-irrigated throughout the entire season.
In Merlot and Sangiovese, the total aroma concentrations ranged from 3 to 8 µg g‑1 and 2 to 5 µg g‑1 of berry fresh weight, respectively.
In both cultivars, monoterpenes were higher in RDI 1 vines, particularly on SO4 (+10% than 1103P), whereas water stress imposed after veraison negatively affected monoterpenes concentrations in Sangiovese vines (-25% with respect to control plants). Benzene derivatives and C13-norisoprenoids were enhanced in both cultivars by RDI 1 treatment, with some differences between rootstocks: benzene derivatives showed greater values in SO4 rootstock, C13-norisoprenoids were higher in 1103P. Water deficit was applied before veraison also induced higher concentrations of vanillins and phenols in Sangiovese berries.
This was particularly evident in SO4-grafted vines, which showed higher values with respect to Sangiovese vines grafted on 1103P (+45%, average between the two aromas classes). Deficit irrigation may be a useful tool to enhance grape aroma, although the rootstock-scion combination can magnify or inhibit this effect.
An experiment was performed on 5-year-old potted grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. Merlot and Sangiovese) to compare the effect of two rootstocks (SO4 and 1103P) and three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, FI; regulated deficit irrigation 1, RDI 1; regulated deficit irrigation 2, RDI 2) on fruit quality and their aroma characteristics.
Cultivar and rootstock combinations were subjected to water stress from fruit set through veraison and from veraison through harvest in RDI 1 and RDI 2 vines, respectively, whereas they were fully irrigated for the rest of the irrigation period.
Control grapevines (FI) were fully-irrigated throughout the entire season.
In Merlot and Sangiovese, the total aroma concentrations ranged from 3 to 8 µg g‑1 and 2 to 5 µg g‑1 of berry fresh weight, respectively.
In both cultivars, monoterpenes were higher in RDI 1 vines, particularly on SO4 (+10% than 1103P), whereas water stress imposed after veraison negatively affected monoterpenes concentrations in Sangiovese vines (-25% with respect to control plants). Benzene derivatives and C13-norisoprenoids were enhanced in both cultivars by RDI 1 treatment, with some differences between rootstocks: benzene derivatives showed greater values in SO4 rootstock, C13-norisoprenoids were higher in 1103P. Water deficit was applied before veraison also induced higher concentrations of vanillins and phenols in Sangiovese berries.
This was particularly evident in SO4-grafted vines, which showed higher values with respect to Sangiovese vines grafted on 1103P (+45%, average between the two aromas classes). Deficit irrigation may be a useful tool to enhance grape aroma, although the rootstock-scion combination can magnify or inhibit this effect.
Publication
Authors
G. Palai, G. Caruso, R. Gucci, C. DOnofrio
Keywords
rootstock, water deficit, Vitis vinifera, monoterpenes, VOCs
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