Linking Sap Flow and Trunk Diameter Measurements to Assess Water Dynamics of Touriga-Nacional Grapevines Trained in Cordon and Guyot Systems

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate the water dynamics of grapevines trained in Cordon and Guyot systems by coupling sap flow and trunk diameter measurements under Mediterranean climate conditions. The study was conducted in a vineyard with Touriga-Nacional located at the Douro Valley, Portugal, during 2017. The results showed daily trunk diameter fluctuations (TDFs), with the contraction, recovery and increment phases and higher sap flow (SF) rates at earlier stages. Under harsh pedoclimatic conditions, SF was reduced and TDF flattened. Rehydration and stomatal mechanisms were mostly associated with these responses. Guyot vines showed higher changes in TDF for the same SF values, whereas the TDFs of Cordon vines remained practically unchanged over maturation. Guyot vines generally showed increased values of cumulative increment and maximum daily trunk shrinkage. Although Guyot vines had a similar leaf area index (LAI), they showed higher SF/LAI ratios than Cordon vines. These results highlight the effect of the shorter length of the hydraulic pathways of the Guyot training system, in contrast to the higher trunk and the permanent horizontal branch (cordon) of the Cordon training system, indicating good adaptation to local pedoclimatic conditions. The study pointed to the complementary use of both techniques in the evaluation of grapevine water dynamics.