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. 2024 Feb 5.
doi: 10.1111/plb.13620. Online ahead of print.

The legacy of past droughts induces water-sparingly behaviour in Grüner Veltliner grapevines

J C Herrera  1 , S Savoi  2 , J Dostal  1 , K Elezovic  1 , M Chatzisavva  1 , A Forneck  1 , T Savi  3
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Free article

The legacy of past droughts induces water-sparingly behaviour in Grüner Veltliner grapevines

J C Herrera et al. Plant Biol (Stuttg). .
Free article

Abstract

Drought is becoming more frequent and severe in numerous wine-growing regions. Nevertheless, limited research has examined the legacy of recurrent droughts, focusing on leaf physiology and anatomy over consecutive seasons. We investigated drought legacies (after 2 years of drought exposure) in potted grapevines, focusing on stomatal behaviour under well-watered conditions during the third year. Vines were subjected for two consecutive years to short- (SD) or long-term (LD) seasonal droughts, or well-watered conditions (WW). In the third year, all plants were grown without water limitation. Water potential and gas exchange were monitored throughout the three seasons, while leaf morpho-anatomical traits were measured at the end of the third year. During droughts (1st and 2nd year), stem water potential of SD and LD plants fell below -1.1 MPa, with a consequent 75% reduction in stomatal conductance (gs ) compared to WW. In the 3rd year, when all vines were daily irrigated to soil capacity (midday stem water potential ~ -0.3 MPa), 45% lower values of gs were observed in the ex-LD group compared to both ex-SD and ex-WW. Reduced midrib vessel diameter, lower leaf theoretical hydraulic conductivity, and smaller stomata were measured in ex-LD leaves compared to ex-SD and ex-WW, likely contributing to the reduced gas exchange. Our findings suggest that grapevines exposed to drought may adopt a more water-conserving strategy in subsequent seasons, irrespective of current soil water availability, with the degree of change influenced by the intensity and duration of past drought events.

Keywords: Vitis vinifera; drought acclimation; drought adaptation; drought memory; gas exchange; stomatal density; stomatal size.

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References

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