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Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Plant hydraulic conductance adapts to shoot number but limits shoot vigour in grapevines

Markus Keller A D , Laura S. Deyermond A C and Bhaskar R. Bondada B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, WA 99350, USA.

B Department of Horticulture, Washington State University Tri-Cities, Richland, WA 99354, USA.

C Present address: Windsor Oaks Vineyards and Winery, Windsor, CA 95492, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: mkeller@wsu.edu

Functional Plant Biology 42(4) 366-375 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP14206
Submitted: 30 July 2014  Accepted: 19 November 2014   Published: 9 December 2014

Abstract

The rate of shoot growth (vigour) in grapevines tends to decrease as the number of shoots per plant increases. Because the underlying causes of this relationship remain unclear, they were studied by variable pruning of field-grown, deficit-irrigated Merlot grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.). Shoot number ranged from 11 to 124 per vine and was inversely correlated with shoot growth rate, leaf appearance rate, axillary bud outgrowth, internode length, leaf size, shoot leaf area, carbon partitioned to the fruit (Cfruit) per shoot, average daily maximum photosynthesis (Amax), stomatal conductance (gmax), and leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (Kl). Shoot number was positively correlated with canopy leaf area, whole-vine Cfruit, whole-plant hydraulic conductance (Kv), and canopy conductance (Kc). Higher shoot vigour was associated with higher Amax, gmax, predawn leaf water potential (Ψpd), shoot hydraulic conductance (Ks), Kl, and Kv. Vigorous shoots supported both more vegetative growth and more reproductive growth; thus fruit growth did not compete with shoot growth for photosynthates. These results indicate that the hydraulic capacity of grapevines adapts to varying shoot numbers to support leaf physiology, growth, and carbon partitioning, but adaptation may be limited, putting upper bounds on the growth of individual shoots and fruit.

Additional keywords: hydraulic conductance, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, vigor, Vitis, water deficit.


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