VITICULTURE / Original research article
- Published : 25 September 2026 (2)
- Published : 29 June 2026 (1)
Abstract
The increased intensity and frequency of heatwaves, coupled with prolonged periods of drought, poses a significant threat to viticulture worldwide. Under these conditions, greater damage may occur when the leaf is also exposed to high radiation intensity. To better understand the impact of drought and high radiation exposure during heatwaves on grapevine physiology, we established a factorial experiment using well-watered or water-deficit Shiraz grapevines with different radiation exposure due to the row orientation. Given the East-West row orientation, the two sides faced directly north or south, receiving different radiation intensities. To monitor the impact of irrigation and radiation exposure on PSII functionality, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence was continuously monitored over a 20-day period on leaves on the north side and on the south side of the canopy of each plant, while leaf gas exchange measurements were performed on adjacent leaves. Water-deficit vines were maintained at a midday stem water potential (SWP) of –1.4 MPa, while well-watered plants had SWP of –0.8 MPa during the experiment. High radiation exposure was the dominant factor impairing PSII performance rather than heat or water stress alone. The north side leaves (N) showed lower maximum efficiency of PSII than the south side leaves (S) on hot days, especially when plants were water-stressed. S leaves had higher photochemical (Y(II)) and lower non-photochemical yields (Y(NPQ)) than N leaves, predominantly at midday. Water stress further decreased Y(II) and increased Y(NPQ) in N leaves, but not in S leaves. Leaf net assimilation, stomatal conductance, and transpiration were higher in N leaves compared to S leaves, notably pronounced in the well-watered plants than in the water-deficit ones. The coupling between stomatal conductance and assimilation showed similar pattern in water-deficit and well-watered vines in N leaves, while in S leaves, water-deficit plants showed lower changes in stomatal conductance compared to well-watered ones for the same increase in assimilation. These findings suggest that despite the positive impact of irrigation to sustain the canopy during heatwaves, additional management strategies (such as shade netting) may be required to reduce radiation exposure and to maintain leaf function during and following heatwaves.
Corrected version available (corrigendum): After publication, errors were identified in the references of the article. The authors subsequently provided corrected references and the article has been updated accordingly. One reference has been corrected and two references have been replaced:
-
Corrected reference:
Greer, D. H. (2019). Short-term temperature responses of photosynthesis and PSII photochemistry in field-grown Shiraz vines with and without fruit. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 25(4), 412–421.
has been corrected to:
Greer, D. H. (2019). Short-term temperature dependency of the photosynthetic and PSII photochemical responses to photon flux density of leaves of Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz vines grown in field conditions with and without fruit. Functional Plant Biology, 46(7), 634–648. -
Replaced reference:
Pou, A., Medrano, H., Tomás, M., Martorell, S., Ribas-Carbó, M., & Flexas, J. (2008). Anisohydric behaviour in grapevines under water stress: Changes in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance are associated with differential stomatal and mesophyll limitations. Plant and Cell Physiology, 49(9), 1426–1436.
has been replaced by:
Flexas, J., Baron, M., Bota, J., Ducruet, J. M., Galle, A., Galmes, J., ... & Medrano, H. (2009). Photosynthesis limitations during water stress acclimation and recovery in the drought-adapted Vitis hybrid Richter-110 (V. berlandieri × V. rupestris). Journal of Experimental Botany, 60(8), 2361–2377. -
Replaced reference:
Prieto, J. A., Louarn, G., Pérez Peña, J., Ojeda, H., & Lebon, E. (2010). FABA, a dynamic model of carbon assimilation and partitioning to simulate grapevine response to elevated CO₂ and water stress. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 150(3), 349–369.
has been replaced by:
Medrano, H., Bota, J., Abadía, A., Sampol, B., Escalona, J. M., & Flexas, J. (2002). Effects of drought on light-energy dissipation mechanisms in high-light-acclimated, field-grown grapevines. Functional Plant Biology, 29(10), 1197–1207.
You can find the corrected version here: https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/10057.
References
- Bacelar, E. A., Santos, D. L., Moutinho-Pereira, J. M., Lopes, J. I., Gonçalves, B. C., Ferreira, T. C., & Correia, C. M. (2007). Physiological behaviour, oxidative damage and antioxidative protection of olive trees grown under different irrigation regimes. Plant and Soil, 292(1-2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9088-1
- Bonada, M., Edwards, E. J., McCarthy, M. G., Sepúlveda, G. C., & Petrie, P. R. (2020). Impact of low rainfall during dormancy on vine productivity and development. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 26(4), 325-342. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajgw.12445
- Bonada, M., Sadras, V., Moran, M., & Fuentes, S. (2013). Elevated temperature and water stress accelerate mesocarp cell death and shrivelling, and decouple sensory traits in shiraz berries. Irrigation Science, 31, 1317-1331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-013-0407-z
- Bussotti, F., & Pollastrini, M. (2021). Revisiting the concept of stress in forest trees at the time of global change and issues for stress monitoring. Plant Stress, 2, 100013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2021.100013
- Carvalho, L. C., Coito, J. L., Gonçalves, E. F., Chaves, M. M., & Amancio, S. (2016). Differential physiological response of the grapevine varieties touriga nacional and trincadeira to combined heat, drought and light stresses. Plant Biology, 18, 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12410
- Carvalho, L. C., Coito, J. L., Colaço, S., Sangiogo, M., & Amâncio, S. (2015). Heat stress in grapevine: The pros and cons of acclimation. Plant, Cell & Environment, 38(4), 777-789. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12445
- Chaves, M. M., Flexas, J., & Pinheiro, C. (2009). Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress: Regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell. Annals of Botany, 103(4), 551-560. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcn125
- Chaves, M. M., Zarrouk, O., Francisco, R., Costa, J. M., Santos, T., Regalado, A. P., Rodrigues, M. L., & Lopes, C. M. (2010). Grapevine under deficit irrigation: Hints from physiological and molecular data. Annals of Botany, 105(5), 661–676. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcq030
- Devot, A., Royer, L., Caron Giauffret, E., Ayral, V., Deryn, D., Arvis, B., & Giraud, L. (2023). The impact of extreme climate events on agricultural production in the EU policy department for structural and cohesion policies directorate-general for internal policies PE 733.115 -april 2023 EN STUDY. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies.
- Flexas, J., & Medrano, H. (2002). Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: Stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Annals of Botany, 89, 183–189. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcf027
- Garcia-Tejera, O., Bonada, M., Petrie, P. R., Nieto, H., Bellvert, J., & Sadras, V. O. (2023). Viticulture adaptation to global warming: Modelling gas exchange, water status and leaf temperature to probe for practices manipulating water supply, canopy reflectance and radiation load. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 331, 109351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109351
- Genty, B., Briantais, J., & Baker, N. R. (1989). The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-General Subjects, 990(1), 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4165(89)80016-9
- Greer, D. H. (2019). Short-term temperature responses of photosynthesis and PSII photochemistry in field-grown Shiraz vines with and without fruit. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 25(4), 412–421.
- Guiot, J., Bernigaud, N., Bondeau, A., Bouby, L., & Cramer, W. (2023). Viticulture extension in response to global climate change drivers – lessons from the past and future projections. Copernicus GmbH. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1451
- Hsiao, T. C. (1990). Measurements of plant water status. Agronomy, (30), 243-279.
- Ju, Y., Min, Z., Zhang, Y., Zhang, K., Liu, M., & Fang, Y. (2021). Transcriptome profiling provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of grapevine response to heat, drought, and combined stress. Scientia Horticulturae, 286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110076
- Kalaji, H. M., Račková, L., Paganová, V., Swoczyna, T., Rusinowski, S., & Sitko, K. (2018). Can chlorophyll-a fluorescence parameters be used as bio-indicators to distinguish between drought and salinity stress in tilia cordata mill? Environmental and Experimental Botany, 152, 149-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2017.11.001
- Kriedemann, P. E. (1968). Photosynthesis in vine leaves as a function of light intensity, temperature, and leaf age. VITIS-Journal of Grapevine Research, 7(3), 213.
- Medlyn, B. E., Duursma, R. A., Eamus, D., Ellsworth, D. S., Prentice, I. C., Barton, C. V., Crous, K. Y., De Angelis, P., Freeman, M., & Wingate, L. (2011). Reconciling the optimal and empirical approaches to modelling stomatal conductance. Global Change Biology, 17(6), 2134-2144. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02375.x
- Mullineaux, P. M., Karpinski, S., & Baker, N. R. (2006). Spatial dependence for hydrogen peroxide-directed signaling in light-stressed plants. Plant Physiology, 141(2), 346-350. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.106.078162
- Peña-Olmos, J. E., & Casierra-Posada, F. (2013). Chlorophyll fluorescence in partially defoliated grape plants (vitis vinifera L. cv. chardonnay). Revista Facultad Nacional De Agronomía Medellín, 66(1), 6881-6889.
- Porcar-Castell, A., Pfündel, E., Korhonen, J. F., & Juurola, E. (2008). A new monitoring PAM fluorometer (MONI-PAM) to study the short-and long-term acclimation of photosystem II in field conditions. Photosynthesis Research, 96, 173-179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-008-9292-3
- Pou, A., Medrano, H., Tomás, M., Martorell, S., Ribas-Carbó, M., & Flexas, J. (2008). Anisohydric behaviour in grapevines under water stress: Changes in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance are associated with differential stomatal and mesophyll limitations. Plant and Cell Physiology, 49(9), 1426–1436.
- Prieto, J. A., Louarn, G., Pérez Peña, J., Ojeda, H., & Lebon, E. (2010). FABA, a dynamic model of carbon assimilation and partitioning to simulate grapevine response to elevated CO₂ and water stress. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 150(3), 349–369.
- Qiu, Q.; Sun, Y.; Guo, D.; Wang, L.; Pagay, V.; Wang, S. (2025). Heat Stress Downregulates Photosystem I Redox State on Leaf Photosynthesis in Grapevine. Agronomy, 15(4), 948. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040948
- Santos, J. A., Fraga, H., Malheiro, A. C., Moutinho-Pereira, J., Dinis, L., Correia, C., Moriondo, M., Leolini, L., Dibari, C., & Costafreda-Aumedes, S. (2020). A review of the potential climate change impacts and adaptation options for european viticulture. Applied Sciences, 10(9), 3092. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10093092
- Savitch, L. V., Ivanov, A. G., Gudynaite-Savitch, L., Huner, N. P. A., & Simmonds, J. (2009). Effects of low temperature stress on excitation energy partitioning and photoprotection in zea mays. Functional Plant Biology, 36(1), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08093
- Swoczyna, T., Kalaji, H. M., Bussotti, F., Mojski, J., & Pollastrini, M. (2022). Environmental stress - what can we learn from chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis in woody plants? A review. Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1048582
- Tan, J. W., Shinde, H., Tesfamicael, K., Hu, Y., Fruzangohar, M., Tricker, P., Baumann, U., Edwards, E. J., & Rodríguez López, C. M. (2023). Global transcriptome and gene co-expression network analyses reveal regulatory and non-additive effects of drought and heat stress in grapevine. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1096225. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1096225
- Venios, X., Korkas, E., Nisiotou, A., & Banilas, G. (2020). Grapevine responses to heat stress and global warming. Plants (Basel), 9(12), 1754. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121754
- Wang, L., Loescher, W., Duan, W., Li, W., Yang, S., & Li, S. (2009). Heat acclimation induced acquired heat tolerance and cross adaptation in different grape cultivars: Relationships to photosynthetic energy partitioning. Functional Plant Biology, 36(6), 516-526. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP09008
Views: 843
XML: 18