South Africa Wine Research Projects

2. VITICULTURE RESEARCH PROJECT IN PROGRESS

A MODEL VINEYARD IN POTS TO STUDY GRAPEVINE/ SCION RESPONSES TO WATER LIMITATION

FShip Water 4 Prof Melané Vivier, South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University

Start date: 2023 Flagship Project

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: This research will aim to generate scenarios of water limitation on grapevines that can test the impact of the timing of and the severity of the water limitation, as well as the ability of the vines to adapt to the limitation and recuperate after successive drought scenarios. This project will provide a novel resource to the SA Wine Flagship Water Programme, namely a potted vineyard comprising a robust experimental design of 29 plant combinations (grafted and ungrafted vines), repeated nine times. It extends and draws on the other FShip Water projects (Fship 1-3) and will particularly support the ongoing research and showcasing of results obtained from Water Fship 3. The potted trial includes additional scion/rootstock combinations (grafted and ungrafted) not evaluated in FShip Water 3. With the vines planted in pots, a greater level of control can be achieved, a unique feature. When the plants experience water stress and to what level the stress will develop can be controlled. Any soil and geospatial variability are removed by using pots, and the genotype responses can be monitored with fewer confounding variables. More severe stress responses in a shorter period can be generated due to the limited soil volume, and rain can be excluded by covering the pots. Furthermore, the location and layout of the trial make it ideal for sensor and technology testing. This study will yield both academic outputs and practical information suitable to be transferred to the industry. The potted vines and the planned experiments will be ideal for showcasing the impacts of the modulated water limitations. The trial will serve as a demonstration site for indus try professionals and other stakeholders and where student engagement and training can occur.

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SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2024