Anthocyanin Composition in Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Skins: Effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation in a Warm Climate

Abstract

The influence of regulated deficit irrigation on the anthocyanin composition in Cabernet Sauvignon grape skins throughout ripening and when grown in a warm geographic area for two consecutive seasons was investigated. The assay was carried out on own-rooted Cabernet Sauvignon plants maintained under three irrigation regimes (i.e., T1 = 12 L h−1 (90% of ETp), T2 = 6 L h−1 (60% of ETp) and T3 = 2 L h−1 (30% of ETp)) from veraison until harvest. The results showed that the concentration of total anthocyanins varied among the three groups. In terms of the different fractions of anthocyanins, mild water stress generated slight changes with a different behavior between the 2014 and 2015 seasons, although the pattern of accumulation was similar. The trihydroxylated anthocyanins were much higher in concentration than the dihydroxylated counterparts in both seasons, with no significant differences among irrigation treatments. The water status did not produce differences in terms of the different anthocyanin proportions at harvest, which could indicate that the different irrigation treatments did not induce a greater accumulation of one or another type of anthocyanin.