EFFECT OF THREE LEVELS OF WATER SUPPLY ON THE VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF MERLOT AND CABERNET SAUVIGNON GRAPEVINES

In Bordeaux vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon is mainly planted in dry soils whereas Merlot is located in more humid zones.
This study was undertaken to determine the physiological explanations of this repartition.
Shoot growth and yield were less affected by water limitation for Merlot than for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Veraison was delayed and the lag phase of berry growth lasted longer under limited water conditions for both varieties.
Important water supply through irrigation increased the volume of the trunk and the arms for Cabernet Sauvignon, but had no effect on the dry matter partitioning.
Irrigation increased dry matter partitioning towards the clusters in Merlot.
During ripening, Merlot vines lost an important part of their leaf area when they are water limited.
Our results show that these two varieties behave differently with respect to water supply.
More work is required to analyse these differences.

I ISHS Workshop on Water Relations of Grapevines

J. Tandonnet, N. Ollat, M. Neveux, J. Renoux

irrigation, shoot growth, quality, variety, water relations, yield

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.493.30