Lime-induced chlorosis and drought tolerance of grapevine rootstocks

Abstract

Due to the expansion of phylloxera into European vineyards rootstocks became an integral part of successful modern growing of grapevine. Breeding of rootstocks and their selection for resistance against both biotic and abiotic factors can be classified as a biotechnology. In this respect, the capability of grapevine plants to adapt themselves to pedological conditions, especially to drought and a high content of lime (or factors inducing their chlorosis) represents a very important breeding goal. In this survey possible causes of lime-induced chlorosis and drought damage and their consequences are analysed. Some important drought-and-lime induced chlorosis-related properties of some selected rootstocks are mentioned as well.