Source: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
IDENTIFY DROUGHT RESISTANT GRAPEVINE CULTIVARS FOR SUSTAINING GRAPE PRODUCTION IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0414481
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
5358-21000-041-11G
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 19, 2008
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2012
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
TARARA J M
Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
2710 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
RICHLAND,WA 99352
Performing Department
HORTICULTURE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2041131102073%
2051139200027%
Goals / Objectives
1. Investigate leaf anatomy and morphology of well-watered and water-stressed grapevines using light and electron microscopy. 2. Monitor berry ripening and fruit quality characteristics of well watered and water stressed grapevines.
Project Methods
Research will be conducted on two cultivars in a greenhouse and drought conditions will be simulated. Leaves will be tagged on the vines of both cultivars to determine leaf age. During the dry-down and re-watering cycles, the physiological, anatomical, and morphological characteristics will be measured in both cultivars to assess drought resistance. Prior to sampling tissues for all microscopy studies, photosynthesis, dark respiration, and stomatal conductance will be measured on leaves of well-watered and water-stressed grapevines. Fruit quality characteristics such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color etc., will be measured to examine ripening behavior and quality characteristics during dry-down and re-watering cycles. Documents Grant with Washington State University. Formerly 5358-21000-034-32G (12/2008).

Progress 08/19/08 to 09/30/12

Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Investigate leaf anatomy and morphology of well-watered and water- stressed grapevines using light and electron microscopy. 2. Monitor berry ripening and fruit quality characteristics of well watered and water stressed grapevines. Approach (from AD-416): Research will be conducted on two cultivars in a greenhouse and drought conditions will be simulated. Leaves will be tagged on the vines of both cultivars to determine leaf age. During the dry-down and re-watering cycles, the physiological, anatomical, and morphological characteristics will be measured in both cultivars to assess drought resistance. Prior to sampling tissues for all microscopy studies, photosynthesis, dark respiration, and stomatal conductance will be measured on leaves of well- watered and water-stressed grapevines. Fruit quality characteristics such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color etc., will be measured to examine ripening behavior and quality characteristics during dry-down and re- watering cycles. This research was conducted in support of objective 305 1B Perennial Crops. Based on the results and analysis, from physiological aspects, Zinfandel showed the highest stomatal conductance under well watered conditions and mild water stress conditions, however, its stomatal conductance decreased to the same level as Grenache and Cabernet, indicating its stomatal behavior changes quickly in response to water stress. Leaf water potential showed that Grenache had high water potential than Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon indicating it has the ability to remain �tough� under water stress. Grenache showed higher RWC than Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Therefore, compared to Zinfandel, Grenache showed a more stable stomatal behavior, less negative midday leaf water potential and high relative water content indicating it is more drought resistant than Zinfandel from physiological aspects. In all three cultivars, the physiology was altered in response to water stress, especially under severe water stress conditions. However, no treatment effects were found in RWC indicating its low sensitivity to water stress. A similar pattern was observed for wax load. From morphological and anatomical aspect, severe water stress reduced leaf size. Zinfandel showed higher leaf size than Grenache. For leaf thickness, with increasing water stress, Grenache increased leaf thickness to reduce surface to volume which is a positive strategy to resist drought. Water stress reduced stomatal pore areas significantly but not stomatal density. Palisade cell length of Zinfandel was very responsive to water stress while Grenache showed longer palisade cell length under water stress. Also, water stress affected intercellular air spaces of the three cultivars with Grenache showing the highest values. Water stress did cause differences in their morphology and anatomy except leaf vein density of Zinfandel and Grenache. Cavitation occurred under the severe water stressed treatment of the three cultivars showing all of them were vulnerable to water-stress induced cavitation. Water stress in general altered the fruit composition; however, more research using different stress levels is needed to better understand the water stress effect on fruit composition. Among the three, Grenache performed the best followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel in terms of grapevine physiology, morphology and anatomy. Based on this study, Grenache was very adaptive to drought conditions. Thus, its resilience can be exploited to make planting recommendations in sites with limited availability of water. The information gathered from this study can be useful for guiding targeted irrigation strategies, which focus on delivering water to the grapevines only when it is necessary in established vineyards. Furthermore, the results of this research will assist vineyard managers to manage water efficiently in planted vineyards by targeting cultivars that show resilience to drought. Such approaches have the potential to improve crop quality while at the same time reducing water use. For new growers, the information will help them guide vineyard design and subsequent development. Additionally, this research has potential benefits to environment which include improvement in biodiversity and air quality (dust control), reduction in land degradation and improvement in productive capacity of the land, and finally having such land planted with grapevines contributes to visual (aesthetic) and landscape qualities.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications


    Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

    Outputs
    Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1. Investigate leaf anatomy and morphology of well-watered and water- stressed grapevines using light and electron microscopy. 2. Monitor berry ripening and fruit quality characteristics of well watered and water stressed grapevines. Approach (from AD-416) Research will be conducted on two cultivars in a greenhouse and drought conditions will be simulated. Leaves will be tagged on the vines of both cultivars to determine leaf age. During the dry-down and re-watering cycles, the physiological, anatomical, and morphological characteristics will be measured in both cultivars to assess drought resistance. Prior to sampling tissues for all microscopy studies, photosynthesis, dark respiration, and stomatal conductance will be measured on leaves of well- watered and water-stressed grapevines. Fruit quality characteristics such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color etc., will be measured to examine ripening behavior and quality characteristics during dry-down and re- watering cycles. Documents Grant with Washington State University. Formerly 5358-21000-034-32G (12/2008). We used potted grapevines to better understand features that allow some cultivars to better adapt to drought stress. To achieve this goal, the three cultivars, Zinfandel, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon were subjected to four water regimes (0%, 33%, 67% and 100% irrigation). Stomatal conductance, the amount of water vapor or CO2 that moves into and out of leaves, decreased with increasing water stress levels. In a similar pattern, leaf water potential was lowest at the highest water stress level. Generally, leaves under high levels of water stress had higher wax content and higher relative water content under well watered conditions. In future studies, physiological, anatomical, and morphological measurements of drought resistant cultivars will be taken with the goal of being able to predict the drought tolerance of grape cultivars. Methods of project monitoring included meetings, e-mail, and phone calls.

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications


      Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

      Outputs
      Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1. Investigate leaf anatomy and morphology of well-watered and water- stressed grapevines using light and electron microscopy. 2. Monitor berry ripening and fruit quality characteristics of well watered and water stressed grapevines. Approach (from AD-416) Research will be conducted on two cultivars in a greenhouse and drought conditions will be simulated. Leaves will be tagged on the vines of both cultivars to determine leaf age. During the dry-down and re-watering cycles, the physiological, anatomical, and morphological characteristics will be measured in both cultivars to assess drought resistance. Prior to sampling tissues for all microscopy studies, photosynthesis, dark respiration, and stomatal conductance will be measured on leaves of well- watered and water-stressed grapevines. Fruit quality characteristics such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color etc., will be measured to examine ripening behavior and quality characteristics during dry-down and re- watering cycles. Documents Grant with Washington State University. Formerly 5358-21000-034-32G (12/2008). Vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Zinfandel were potted. We characterized some physiological and anatomical drought adaptive features with the purpose of identifying drought resistant cultivars. Different levels of drought were induced by supplying 75, 50, 25, 0 % of the daily water consumption of the control. The relative water content (RWC) was measured in all three vine types. RWC expresses water content in percent and is a useful indicator of state of water balance of the vine in terms of physiological consequence of cellular water deficit. RWC decreased with increasing drought conditions in each cultivar. Among the three, Zinfandel and Grenache showed a higher RWC compared to Cabernet Sauvignon indicating their improved ability to withstand drought. Between Zinfandel and Grenache, the latter variety appeared to be more tolerant to drought conditions. During the current season, gas exchange and anatomical drought adaptive features such as surface morphology, leaf anatomical parameters, amount of wax, and vein density will be measured to determine drought-withstanding ability of these varieties. Methods of ADODR monitoring included meetings, e-mail, and phone calls.

      Impacts
      (N/A)

      Publications


        Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

        Outputs
        Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1. Investigate leaf anatomy and morphology of well-watered and water- stressed grapevines using light and electron microscopy. 2. Monitor berry ripening and fruit quality characteristics of well watered and water stressed grapevines. Approach (from AD-416) Research will be conducted on two cultivars in a greenhouse and drought conditions will be simulated. Leaves will be tagged on the vines of both cultivars to determine leaf age. During the dry-down and re-watering cycles, the physiological, anatomical, and morphological characteristics will be measured in both cultivars to assess drought resistance. Prior to sampling tissues for all microscopy studies, photosynthesis, dark respiration, and stomatal conductance will be measured on leaves of well- watered and water-stressed grapevines. Fruit quality characteristics such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color etc., will be measured to examine ripening behavior and quality characteristics during dry-down and re- watering cycles. Documents Grant with Washington State University. Formerly 5358-21000-034-32G (12/2008). Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Having no qualified graduate student and delayed funding precluded us from initiating this project. Notwithstanding such obstacles, we used potted vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Zinfandel prepared earlier to collect preliminary data on physiological and anatomical drought adaptive features for identifying drought resistant cultivars. ABA levels decreased with increasing water levels. As expected, stomatal conductance increased with increasing soil moisture levels. In a similar pattern, leaf water potential was highest at the highest soil moisture levels. The leaves followed reticulate venation pattern in which veinlets circumscribed small areas of mesophyll known as areola confining free vein endings of different density. Between the two cultivars, Zinfandel and Grenache subjected to two water regimes (42% and 29% soil volumetric water content) Zinfandel appeared to be more tolerant to low moisture levels as indicated by their high stomatal conductance. After hiring a qualified graduate student, these features will be reexamined with more rigorous experiments using all three cultivars. Along with all the physiological measurements, anatomical measurements including surface morphology, leaf anatomical parameters, amount of wax, and vein density will be measured in all three varieties and identify drought resistant cultivars. Methods of ADODR monitoring included meetings, e-mail, and phone calls.

        Impacts
        (N/A)

        Publications