Post-Harvest Regulated Deficit Irrigation in Chardonnay Did Not Reduce Yield but at Long-Term, It Could Affect Berry Composition

Abstract

Future increases in temperatures are expected to advance grapevine phenology and shift ripening to warmer months, leaving a longer post-harvest period with warmer temperatures. Accumulation of carbohydrates occurs during post-harvest, and has an influence on vegetative growth and yield in the following growing season. This study addressed the possibility of adopting regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) during post-harvest in Chardonnay. Four irrigation treatments during post-harvest were applied over three consecutive seasons: (i) control (C), with full irrigation; (ii) low regulated deficit irrigation for sparkling base wine production (RDIL SP), from harvest date of sparkling base wine, irrigation when stem water potential (Ψstem) was less than −0.9 MPa; (iii) mild regulated deficit irrigation for sparkling base wine production (RDIM SP), from harvest date of sparkling base wine, irrigation when Ψstem was less than −1.25 MPa; (iv) mild regulated deficit irrigation for wine production (RDIM W), from harvest data of wine, irrigation when Ψstem was less than −1.25 MPa. Root starch concentration in full irrigation was higher than under RDI. Yield parameters did not differ between treatments, but differences in berry composition were detected. Considering that the desirable berry composition attributes of white varieties are high in titratable acidity, it would seem inappropriate to adopt RDI strategy during post-harvest. However, in a scenario of water restriction, it may be considered because there was less impact on yield and berry composition than if RDI had been adopted during pre-harvest.

Optimization of Vineyard Water Management: Challenges, Strategies, and Perspectives

“…In contrast, studies on white varieties are less numerous. However, this trend has changed, and an increasing interest has been devoted to the assessment of the effects of RDI on renowned white varieties such as Sauvignon blanc [179,180], Chardonnay [46,181,182], Airén [183], Muscat of Alexandria [184], or Albariño [48]. These studies proved that RDI improved vine water status, increased yield, and affected positively the wine sensory profiles [46].…”

“…More recent research efforts are focused on addressing unresolved questions such as the effects of post-harvest RDI [182], the use of direct root-zone irrigation [198], or the combination of RDI and other practices such as variable crop load [199] and under-trellis cover crops [164]. Moreover, the effects of irrigation on vineyards located on reclaimed land have been the focus of a recent study [200].…”

“…The accumulation of carbohydrates occurs during post-harvest, and it affects vegetative growth and yield in the following season, so adopting RDI during this period can be problematic [182]. When comparing three levels of RDI with a fully irrigated control in Chardonnay, yield components did not differ among treatments, but differences in berry composition were detected [182].…”

“…The accumulation of carbohydrates occurs during post-harvest, and it affects vegetative growth and yield in the following season, so adopting RDI during this period can be problematic [182]. When comparing three levels of RDI with a fully irrigated control in Chardonnay, yield components did not differ among treatments, but differences in berry composition were detected [182]. Even though this study indicated that adopting a RDI strategy during post-harvest could be inappropriate, it may be considered in a scenario of water restriction because there was less impact on yield and berry composition than if RDI had been adopted during pre-harvest [182].…”

Erratum: Prats-Llinàs, M.T., et al. Post-Harvest Regulated Deficit Irrigation in Chardonnay Did Not Reduce Yield but at Long-Term, It Could Affect Berry Composition. Agronomy 2019, 9, 328

“…The authors would like to make the following correction to the published paper [1]: The second "Harvest" in the title has been deleted. The correct title should be "Post-Harvest Regulated Deficit Irrigation in Chardonnay Did Not Reduce Yield but at Long-Term, It Could Affect Berry Composition".…”