Resumen de Rootstock effects on salt tolerance of irrigated field-grown grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sultana): 2. Ion concentrations in leaves and juice

Peter R. Clingeleffer, Rob R. Walker, Ray L. Correll, Deidre H. Blackmore

• Field vines of cv. Sultana, grown either on their own roots, or grafted to a range of rootstocks, were drip-irrigated at three salinity levels (0.40, 1.75 and 3.50 dS/m) over a five-year period. Rootstocks comprised Ramsey, 1103 Paulsen, J17-69 and 4 hybrids (designated R1, R2, R3 and R4) derived from parentage involving Vitis champini, V. berlandieri and V. vinifera. Concentrations of Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were measured in petioles at flowering, and in laminae and grape juice at harvest, in each year of the trial. Vines on all rootstocks accumulated less chloride in either petioles at flowering or in laminae and juice at harvest compared with vines on own roots at all salinity treatments. By inference, all rootstocks behaved as chloride excluders relative to the roots of own-rooted vines. 1103 Paulsen was the best chloride excluder based on lowest concentrations of accumulated Cl- in petioles, laminae and grape juice at high salinity. Sultana on R3 rootstock at high salinity accumulated more Na+ in both laminae and grape juice (at harvest) than did Sultana on own roots or on any of the other rootstocks. Laminae K+ at harvest time was reduced at high salinity in Sultana on own roots and on all rootstocks. Concentrations of both Cl- and Na+ in petioles at flowering and in laminae and grape juice at harvest showed no significant correlation with either yield (as kg of fresh grapes per vine) or vigour (as measured by fresh weight of one-year-old pruning wood per vine) for any salinity treatment. There was however, a strong positive correlation between yield and the subsequent weight of one-year-old pruning wood for all salinity treatments. There was also a negative correlation between Na+ concentrations in petioles at flowering and the subsequent weight of one year-old-pruning wood from the 0.40 dS/m treatment. Similar negative correlations were found between Na+ concentration in both laminae and grape juice at harvest time, and the subsequent weight of one-year-old pruning wood from the 0.40 dS/m treatment (but not from either the 1.75 or 3.50 dS/m treatments). Based on these findings and those from Walker et al. 2002a we conclude that a high innate vigour of a rootstock combined with moderate to high chloride and sodium exclusion ability represents the best combination for salt tolerance in Sultana grapevines as measured by yield at moderate to high salinity.