Shoot Heterogeneity Effects on Shiraz/Richter 99 Grapevines. III. Leaf Chlorophyll Content

In this study, the leaf chlorophyll content of normally developed and underdeveloped shoots was compared in anattempt to quantify the effect of shoot heterogeneity in a Shiraz/Richter 99 vineyard, located in the Stellenbosch areaof the Western Cape, South Africa. Comparisons are also made between normally developed and underdevelopedshoots from shaded and well-exposed canopies. No positive correlation was found between the photosyntheticactivity and the chlorophyll concentration of the leaves at five weeks after véraison. Equal amounts of chlorophyllper cm2 and a non-significant difference in the assimilation rate were calculated for the leaves of normally developedand underdeveloped shoots. No significant differences were found between the shaded and well-exposed canopies. Ittherefore appears that it is the effective surface area per leaf or per shoot rather than the chlorophyll concentrationor activity that may be responsible for any apparent difference in the photosynthetic output of the leaves fromnormally developed and underdeveloped shoots in shaded or well-exposed canopies