Have you ever wondered how well your chosen rootstocks will maintain their yield and quality parameters over time?
SARDI researchers Tim Pitt and Mark Skewes have been asking that very question with recent investigations revisiting decades-old rootstock trials across multiple regions to determine if the longevity of vine performance is affected by rootstock genotype.
Investigations compared yield and quality measures from mature vines against those recorded from the same vines when less than 10 years old. Age related changes to both the yield and salt exclusion performance of grafted vines were identified. Results also challenged the legitimacy of some drought tolerant rootstocks and offered the prospect of rootstocks playing a role in the management of vine health issues such as dieback and bunch stem necrosis.
To read more about the results from this work, refer to SARDI’s Factsheet or Full Report.
