The effect of regulated deficit irrigation on growth, yield, and berry quality of grapevines (cv. Sangiovese) grafted on rootstocks with different resistance to water deficit

Abstract The aim of this work was to investigate the effect full irrigation (FI), pre-veraison water deficit (RDI 1), or post-veraison 2) on growth, yield, and berry quality in container-grown, mature vines cv. Sangiovese grafted onto either 1103P SO4 rootstock over two consecutive growing seasons. Deficit regimes significantly affected vine status both rootstocks before after veraison. Trunk diameter (TD) increment markedly when restricted early, but not period. from fruit set veraison inhibited vegetative growth (TD, canopy volume, weight pruned wood) more than that applied harvest. Yield unaffected by years. Irrigation had a marked juice quality: RDI 1 treatment induced highest anthocyanin concentration, lowest titratable acidity (TA), which, instead, increased 2 treatment. treatments did modify dry weight, soluble solid content, TA, anthocyanins, epicarp total phenols rootstocks.