Resumen de Rootstock response of Shiraz (Vitis vinifera) grapevines to dry and drip‐irrigated conditions

Michael McCarthy, Richard Cirami, D.G. FURKALIEV

• The yield and growth of Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz scions grafted onto seven rootstocks were compared with that of own‐rooted vines in a shallow sandy soil that was free of nematodes and phylloxera in the Barossa Valley of South Australia. In the absence of irrigation, own‐rooted vines yielded as much fruit as vines grafted on Ramsey, the highest‐yielding unirrigated rootstock‐scion combination. Scions grafted to the rootstocks 110R, K51–40, 1103P and Freedom yielded poorly without irrigation. The yield and growth of all vines increased significantly when a small volume of irrigation water (40–160 mm/annum) was applied; however, only scions grafted to Ramsey and Freedom rootstock yielded more fruit than own‐rooted vines.