South Africa Wine Research Projects

2. VITICULTURE RESEARCH PROJECT IN PROGRESS

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SCION/ROOTSTOCK COMBINATIONS ON GRAPEVINE WATER STATUS US SS EL1 Dr Vink Lategan, Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University Start date: 2016

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: The main aim of this trial is to investigate how different cultivar scion and rootstock combinations affect plant water potential, under similar climatic conditions, soil type and water status. Both grapevine scion cultivars and rootstock varieties differ in their tolerance and response to limited water supplies. The reaction of a grafted vine to water stress cannot necessarily be predicted from the scion and rootstock varieties’ individual reactions. Information gained from this research would help to adapt published plant water potential thresholds for more accurate irrigation scheduling to improve fruit and wine quality. A number of different scion and rootstock cultivars, in different combinations, have been selected for this trial which will be an experiment conducted in pots. Water usage of different scion/rootstock combinations as well as plant vegetative and reproductive responses under different irrigation regimes will be evaluated.

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SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2024