Cluster shading effects on fruit quality, fruit skin color, and anthocyanin content and composition in Reliance 8<i>Vitis</i> hybrid)

Abstract

Water and photosynthetic functions on a plant scale were studied simultaneously on traditionally and lyre-shaped grapevines grown in field conditions. The study was carried out on Cabernet Sauvignon/101-14 planted in gravelly soil.
Observations concerning the water behavior (leaf water potential, transpiration per leaf surface unit) of both training systems used indicate that the traditional vine manifests a better water status when compared with the lyre-shaped vine. The difference is in agreement with net photosynthesis values per leaf surface unit, clearly superior on the traditional vine. It seems, however, that the existence of a greater leaf surface per soil surface in the lyre-shaped vine compensates the reduction in photosynthesis per leaf surface. The compensation results in very close agronomical yield for both training systems.
The main conclusion of this study is that a water constraint having a diminishing effect on net photosynthesis can, on the other hand, have favorable consequences on the elaboration of qualitative criteria, in particular, the synthesis of polyphenols.