Partitioning of dry matter and nutrient uptake in Thomson Seedless grafted on different rootstock.

Abstract

With the increase in salinity in the soil and bad quality of irrigation water due to salt, the yield and quality of grape start declining. To avoid the adverse effects of salinity and chlorides in irrigation water, use of rootstock in grape cultivation has become mandatory as the vineyards on rootstocks give better yield and also quality as compared to the own rooted vines. The variation in yield and quality in grapes may be due to the differences in uptake of the nutrients and the dry matter partitioning in vines. The present study was conducted during 2004–05 on seven-year-old Thompson Seedless grapes grafted on different rootstocks, viz. Dogridge, Salt Creek, 1613-C and St. George. The individual plant parts were analyzed for percent dry matter distribution and the nutrients content. Significant differences were recorded for percent dry matter distribution in different rootstocks. Among the different parts, the roots of Dogridge had the highest dry matter distribution of 56.19% followed by St. George (45.11%) and Salt Creek (40.11%), respectively over the own rooted vines. The rootstock 1613-C had higher dry matter distributed in stem (40.92%) compared to other rootstocks. The maximum total dry matter was recorded in secondary cordon of Salt Creek, however, 1613-C showed higher dry matter accumulation in canes as compared to other rootstocks. Among the nutrients, significantly higher N was recorded in canes as compared to other parts (trunk, cordons and roots) in all the rootstocks. Salt Creek had higher N (1.96%) content in canes while lowest N (1.06%) was estimated in 1613-C rootstock. Phosphorous content was less in the trunk than all other parts. Higher percent of potash was recorded in canes as compared to other parts studied.