Agrobiological, physiological, biochemical and technological peculiarities of 'Riesling of the Rhine' grapevine in the conditions of the climate change in the South of Russia: DOI 10.35547/IM.2019.21.3.004

Abstract

The abnormal manifestation of abiotic stressors of the moderately
continental climate of the South of Russia is accompanied by low
competitiveness of the viticultural products on the consumer market.
In this context, establishment of sustainable ampelocenoses through
the involvement of cultivars adaptive to abnormal natural phenomena
is of interest at this time. The aim of the study was to establish agrobiological, physiological and biochemical peculiarities of ‘Riesling of
the Rhine’ grapevine in order to create an adaptive variety oriented
technology for its sustainable cultivation under stressful environmental conditions. The bud break in the Black sea viticultural zone (Anapa)
was observed on April 22 with air temperature at 12.6 °C. The most
active shoot growth was noted in the first half of June, 2.61 cm/day.
The most intensive shoot growth was observed at a temperature of
23 °C. The maximum growth rate was in the zone of 4 – 9 internodes.
The greatest shoot length, 155 cm, was observed at the plot with the
row width of 3 m. The largest leaves, up to 140 cm2
, were observed
in the area of most active shoot growth between the 4 - 6 nodes. The
leaf growth processes and grapevine fertility depended closely on vine
spacing and bush placement scheme. The largest bunches developed in
the active shoot zone. The highest yield was obtained in the mediumdensity vineyards with the bush planting scheme of 3.0х1.0 and 3.0х1.5
m, where the harvest made 12 t/ha. The differentiated response of a
cultivar to natural and anthropogenic factors was consistent with
the results of the physiological and biochemical parameters of photosynthesis, the efficiency coefficient of the photosynthesis primary
processes, the ratio between chlorophylls and carotenoids and starch
content in the leaves of grapes. High insolation combined with acute
deficit of atmospheric precipitation resulted in the general reduction
of the chlorophyll content in the leaves of grapevines. These indicator
maximum values were observed in the first half of June. During all
the trial variants there was an increase in the starch content in the
leaves of grapevines that lasted until mid-July. Subsequently, the starch
content gradually decreased. Application of variety-oriented technology with an average vine spacing 2222 pcs./ha, planting pattern 3.0х1.5
m, shoot pruning at 10 eyes, shoot load of 23 pcs./bush and clusters 53
pcs./bush ensured the highest release of grapevine photosynthetic and
production potential. Such vineyards produced the highest yields, which
on average made 12 t/ha.