Improved Physiological Performance In Grapevine (Vitis Vinifera L.) Cv. Cabernet Sauvignon Facing Recurrent Drought Stress

Background and Aims: There is evidence that some species can withstand a stress event better when experienced previously. This capacity could help to increase stress tolerance and resilience under recurrent stresses. To test the effect of a previous season drought imprint on the tolerance to a subsequent drought event, we compared the growth and physiological performance of young cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines growing in a semi-arid zone in Chile.Methods and Results: Treatments were single drought (SD; stressed during the second season) and double drought (DD; stressed during the first and second season). During the second season, DD vines budburst earlier, and leaves were smaller. During the drought period, DD showed a higher rate of photosynthesis despite a similar reduction in the stem water potential and stomatal conductance compared to that of SD. Such difference was associated to a higher maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate observed in DD.Conclusions: Our results suggest that grapevines exposed to drought are primed for an upcoming second drought event, the priming lasting from one season to the next, involving contrasting growth and physiological performance.Significance of the Study: Our study results contribute information to the emerging debate regarding drought-priming effects on the tolerance of grapevines to recurrent drought events.