Vegetative growth and cluster development in Shiraz grapevines subjected to partial root-zone cooling

Grapevine roots can be exposed to a range of temperatures at any particular moment because the root system can explore large volumes of soil over great depths and distances. A split-pot experiment was designed to assess how vegetative and reproductive development respond to partial and whole root-zone warming following winter dormancy. Simultaneous cooling and warming of parts of the root system slowed shoot elongation, leaf expansion and berry development compared to plants with a fully warmed root-zone, but not to the same extent as those with a fully cooled root-zone.