Water consumption, leaf area development, and production in four grapevine varieties

Individual vines of Chardonnay, Garnacha, Tempranillo and Airen, were cultivated in weighing lysimeters under non-limiting water conditions during 1995. The first period of growth, from the end of the previous season until fruitset, was characterised by a reduction in total vine dry matter to assure growth. Period II, from fruitset until veraison, was characterised by an increase in leaf area and dry matter, and Period III was characterised by a continued leaf area development and a larger increase in vine dry matter. The varieties studied had the same water use efficiency (g dry matter.L-1), however the distribution of dry matter was different. The leaf area of Tempranillo is reduced as a consequence of senescence during Period III, and Chardonnay has a vegetative growth favored by a low yield and early fruit ripening.