Response of grapevive CV. “Tinta Roriz (Vitis vinifera L. ) to moderate Irrigation in the Douro Region, Portugal

The behaviour of cv. “Tinta Roriz” (Vitis vinifera L.), was studied when moderate drip irrigation was applied from veraison to harvest. Field studies were conducted during three growing seasons (2006-2008) in a commercial vineyard located in the Douro region, Portugal. Experimental layout consisted in the measurement of physiological and agronomic parameters in vines submitted to three different irrigation treatments: 0R was non-irrigation, 2R and 4R were irrigated with a constant fraction of reference evapotranspiration of 0.2 and 0.4, respectively. The results showed that moderate irrigation improved plant water status, leaf photosynthesis and transpiration. Yield components and pruning weights had a significant increase, only in the 2008 growing season, in 4R irrigated treatment. There were no significant differences between treatments in the accumulation of sugar, titratable acidity and pH in berries. The total phenols and the colour intensity showed a tendency, not significant, to decrease in irrigated treatments.

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