Ecophysiology of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Merlot' grown at different altitudes in Santa Catarina State, Brazil
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two different altitudes in 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Merlot' ecophysiology in Santa Catarina State, Brazil.
The studied sites were Campo Belo do Sul (27°40'0S, 50°44'48W, altitude 950 m a.s.l.) and São Joaquim (28°16'30S, 49°6'09W, altitude 1,400 m a.s.l.), during the vintage 2012/2013. Both vineyards were planted in 2006, trained in VSP and grafted on 1103 P. It was evaluated leaf chlorophyll content, plant gas exchange, yield, fertility index, Ravaz Index, crop load: leaf area ratio, technological and phenolic maturity.
The climatic characteristics observed were appropriate for the development of 'Merlot' and 'Cabernet Sauvignon' cultivars in both evaluated altitudes.
The site located at 950 m a.s.l. presented lower rainfall volume and higher global radiation and photosynthetically active radiation rates during the grape ripening period.
Lower temperatures observed at 1400 m a.s.l. in the autumn (March and April) extended the grape maturation period and were responsible for the highest titratable acidity levels and the higher anthocyanins concentration and total polyphenols in both cultivars.
Both cultivars grown in the lower altitude region had the highest CO2 assimilation rates, total chlorophyll content during harvest and higher yields.
According to crop load: leaf area ratio and Ravaz Index observed in both locations, it can be said that vines grown at 950 m a.s.l. are more balanced and its yield could be increased without reducing grape quality.
Malohlava, I.T.C., Simon, S., Vanderlinde, G., Brighenti, A.F., Malinovski, L.I., Munhoz, B., Brighenti, E. and Silva, A.L. (2017). Ecophysiology of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Merlot' grown at different altitudes in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Acta Hortic. 1188, 197-204
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1188.26
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1188.26
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1188.26
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1188.26
Vitis vinifera L., high altitude, CO2 assimilation rates, leaf area, total chlorophyll
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