Open Access
Quantifying the effects of water status on grapevine vegetative growth, yield, and grape composition through a collaborative analysis
(Wiley, 2025-05-14) Contreras Uriarte, David; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Mirás-Ávalos, José M.; Buesa, Ignacio; Cancela, Javier José; Chacón, Juan Luis; Escalona, José M.; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Lampreave, Miriam; Montoro, Amelia; Rivacoba Gómez, Luis; Visconti, Fernando; Yuste, Jesús; Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
The consolidation of scientific knowledge is based on the accumulation and understanding of previous findings. Nowadays, reviews of the scientific literature have become more effective through the use of meta-analyses, which are systematic evaluations of the results from multiple studies. Similarly, mega-analyses, which combine raw data from many studies into a single sample for processing and statistical analysis, are a very powerful tool for analyzing results of heterogeneous origin but require a high level of collaboration between the researchers contributing data. In the framework of a collaborative methodology between different Spanish viticultural research groups, this work uses a mega-analytical approach to quantify the effects of changes in vine water status on vine vegetative growth, yield, and grape composition, integrating a wide range of growing conditions to obtain robust general trends of vine performance under water deficit. The mean seasonal stem water potential data from the different studies allowed a classification into five levels of water status (no deficit ⟶ mild ⟶ moderate ⟶ high ⟶ severe). A progressive decrease in vegetative growth with increasing deficit was observed, while yield decreased more markedly as water deficit progressed from moderate to high. On the other hand, titratable acidity was more sensitive to variation in water status than sugar concentration, with a greater decrease in titratable acidity when changing from no to moderate deficit. Conversely, increasing water deficit from moderate to high resulted in the greatest increases in grape anthocyanin in the red varieties explored. The results obtained in this work provide solid information on general trends in grapevine response to water deficit that can be used in simulation models or incorporated by grape growers in their decision-making processes in relation not only to irrigation management but also on other agronomic tools to impact grapevine water status.
Embargo
Upgrading and validating a soil water balance model to predict stem water potential in vineyards
(Elsevier, 2024-12-15) Mirás-Ávalos, José M.; Escalona, José M.; Pérez-Álvarez, Eva Pilar; Romero Azorín, Pascual; Botia, Pablo; Navarro, Josefa; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Uriarte, David; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Buesa, Ignacio; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Efficient water management is pivotal for viticulture sustainability. Decision support tools can advise on how to optimize irrigation or on the feasibility of growing grapes in rainfed conditions, but reliable algorithms for assessing vine water status are required. In this context, the aim of the current study was to upgrade a soil water balance model specific for vineyards by incorporating meteorological, soil and vine vigor in equations that transform the fraction of transpirable soil water into midday stem water potential (Ψstem). The model's sensitivity to variations in the magnitude of input parameters was analyzed. Furthermore, the model was tested in a broad scope of Spanish vineyards with different grapevine cultivars (both red and white), rootstocks, plant age, soil and climatic conditions, and water regimes, totaling 129 scenarios. The model was only slightly sensitive to variations in the magnitude of most inputs, except for the fraction of transpirable water at which leaf stomatal conductance begin to decline. Moreover, the model satisfactorily reproduced the evolution of Ψstem over the growing season, although it slightly overestimated the measured ¿stem values, as the slopes of the fitted regression lines were lesser than 1 on most occasions, 76 out of 129. Nonetheless, the coefficients of determination for these relationships were greater than 0.9, except for 21 datasets. Mean errors averaged 0.024 ± 0.015 MPa, while root mean square errors averaged 0.27 ± 0.01 MPa. The index of agreement was greater than 0.75 in 51 datasets, with only three datasets showing an index of agreement lower than 0.5. Nevertheless, the deviations between observed and simulated Ψstem values did not alter the classification of the water stress undergone by grapevines. This upgraded model could constitute the core of a decision support system for water management in vineyards, applicable to both rainfed and irrigated conditions.
Open Access
Conventional and newly bred rootstock effects on the ecophysiological response of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo
(Elsevier, 2023) Buesa, Ignacio; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Tortosa, Ignacio; Marín Ederra, Diana; Villa Llop, Ana; Douthe, Cyril; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Medrano, H.; Escalona, José M.; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Achieving more environmentally sustainable vineyards, particularly regarding efficient water use, is paramount in semi-arid grape-growing regions. Rootstocks may be a possible strategy to address these challenges, but require a comprehensive evaluation of their effect on the scion, including ecophysiological traits. The objectives of this study were 1) to characterize the physiological response of Tempranillo cultivar grafted onto five commercial (1103 P, 110 R, 140Ru, 420 A, and SO4), and seven recently bred (RG2, RG3, RG4, RG6, RG7, RG8 and RG9) rootstocks and 2) to elucidate the relationships between agronomic and physiological traits conferred by grapevine rootstocks. This was carried out over three seasons (2018–2020) in a typical Mediterranean vineyard by determining water relations, leaf gas exchange, carbon isotope ratios and vegetative development and yield components. The results highlighted the different behaviour of ‘Tempranillo’ vines due to the rootstock effects on vine water status, photosynthetic performance, hydraulic conductance, vegetative growth and yield parameters. Overall, rootstocks inducing vigour and yield in the scion, such as 140Ru and RG8, showed higher leaf gas exchange rates and hydraulic conductance at the whole-plant level due to less negative water potentials, suggesting a higher water uptake and transport capacity than RG2, RG7 and RG9. The RG rootstocks showed a very wide range of ecophysiological responses, but only RG8 outperformed compared to the most widely used commercial rootstocks. Moreover, this response was modulated by the season and the block soil type, suggesting the importance of rootstock selection according to the edaphoclimatic conditions. Therefore, this study highlights the high potential of rootstocks to adapt to water scarcity by improving crop water productivity in vineyards and provides physiological insights for future studies and breeding programmes.
Open Access
The role of rootstocks for grape growing adaptation to climate change: meta-analysis of the research conducted in Spanish viticulture
(International Viticulture and Enology Society, 2023) Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Rekarte, Isabel; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Galar Martínez, Mónica; Villa Llop, Ana; Visconti, Fernando; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Escalona, José M.; Herralde, Felicidad de; Miranda Jiménez, Carlos; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Rootstock election is one of the key decisions when designing a vineyard. Although the research performed to determine the effect they induce in the behaviour of scion varieties is not scarce, it is not easy to have a global idea, as results are usually published scattered. In this work, we re-examine previous research conducted in Spain on rootstock implications on vine agronomic performance through the performance of a meta-analysis (MA). As a result, we were able to integrate the information reported in 20 articles that included rootstock experimentation conducted with 36 different varieties and 47 different rootstocks, totalling 764 individual records. However, when the information was filtered before the meta-analysis, this number decreased to 312 records, for which rootstock Response Ratios (RR) were calculated. The characteristics conferred by the rootstock were more closely related to the rootstock itself, rather than to the characteristics of the Vitis sp. crossing used to create the rootstock. Several rootstocks were identified as more suitable for adapting to future climate change conditions, as far as they were able to moderate sugar accumulation and pH (161-49 C, 41-B MGt and 420A MGt). Meanwhile, 140 Ru and 5-BB were observed to provide high pH and sugar contents despite their high yield. In conclusion, despite being based on data from a single country, the meta-analysis was shown to be a useful tool for enhancing the value of previous research on rootstocks. Combining articles from both peer-reviewed and technical journals helped in the assessment of the implications of different rootstocks, although further steps should be taken to facilitate data integration (harmonisation of measurement and reporting procedures, open data repositories, etc).
Open Access
Challenges of viticulture adaptation to global change: tackling the issue from the roots
(Wiley, 2021) Marín Ederra, Diana; Armengol, J.; Carbonell-Bejerano, P.; Escalona, José M.; Gramaje, David; Hernández-Montes, E.; Intrigliolo, Diego S.; Martinez-Zapater, J. M.; Medrano, H.; Mirás-Ávalos, José M.; Palomares Rius, Juan Emilio; Romero Azorín, Pascual; Savé, R.; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Herralde, Felicidad de; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Viticulture is facing emerging challenges not only because of the effect of climate change on yield and composition of grapes, but also of a social demand for environmental-friendly agricultural management. Adaptation to these challenges is essential to guarantee the sustainability of viticulture. The aim of this review is to present adaptation possibilities from the soil-hidden, and often disregarded, part of the grapevine, the roots. The complexity of soil-root interactions makes necessary a comprehensive approach taking into account physiology, pathology and genetics, in order to outline strategies to improve viticulture adaptation to current and future threats. Rootstocks are the link between soil and scion in grafted crops, and they have played an essential role in viticulture since the introduction of phylloxera into Europe at the end of the 19th century. This review outlines current and future challenges that are threatening the sustainability of the wine sector and the relevant role that rootstocks can play to face these threats. We describe how rootstocks along with soil management can be exploited as an essential tool to deal with the effects of climate change and of emerging soil-borne pests and pathogens. Moreover, we discuss the possibilities and limitations of diverse genetic strategies for rootstock breeding.
Open Access
Intracultivar genetic diversity in grapevine: water use efficiency variability within cv. Grenache
(Wiley, 2021) Buesa, Ignacio; Escalona, José M.; Tortosa, Ignacio; Marín Ederra, Diana; Loidi Erviti, Maite; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Douthe, Cyril; Medrano, H.; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
The selection of genotypes best adapted to environmental conditions has traditionally focused on agronomic and grape composition parameters. However, to classify the genotypes most adapted to climate change conditions, the aim must be to focus on the ecophysiological responses that will ultimately determine their performance. The variability in water use efficiency of 13 Grenache genotypes over three-seasons was assessed under field conditions at leaf, grape and plant level. Results showed a significant effect of genotype at all three levels, and despite the large interannual variability there was a remarkable consistency among levels. Furthermore, using genotype-specific regressions it was possible to identify significant differences in the intrinsic water use efficiency response of each genotype as a function of the vine water status. The relationship between net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, as well as carbon isotope discrimination in grapes, were also confirmed as reliable physiological indicators for selecting grapevine genotypes to future environmental conditions. Therefore, the proposed multi-level methodology was useful to quantify the intracultivar variability and the identification of more and less efficient genotypes within Grenache.