Review of methods to assess vine water status

Abstract

Assessment of vine water status is crucial to optimize cultural practices and irrigation strategies to guarantee an environmentally and economically sustainable viticulture in view of increasing water shortages caused by global warming. Vine water status can be assessed by indirect, soil-based or atmospheric-based methods or by direct plant-based methods, each having different benefits and drawbacks depending on the application. This brief review aims to provide a perspective on the recent and most important findings in the literature dealing with direct plant-based methods. Recent scientific advances regarding hydraulic and stomatal regulation in vines highlight the limitations of traditional techniques such as leaf water potential measurement, particularly in the context of drought and high vapor pressure deficit (VPD).