TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL INFLUENCE ON SHOOT LENGTH IN PINOT NOIR, MERLOT AND CABERNET SAUVIGNON VARIETIES

Climate changes from last decades influenced plants growth including grapevine. The objective of the research was to evaluate the influence of temperature and rainfall on shoot growth in Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties located in two vineyards - Recaș and Buziaș-Silagiu, during five years (2011-2015). The vines were trained on vertical trellis by bi-lateral cordon and vertical shoot positioned. For research were selected the main shoots and lateral shoots from 25 vines from each variety. Shoots length was measured from the base to the growing tip. Shoots cease growth earlier in dry years 2012 and 2015 compared with the wettest years 2013 and 2014. The warm weather and moderate rainfall in 2011 favor shoots growth in all three varieties and both locations. Measurements show significant differences between shoots length. The longest shoots were found in Cabernet Sauvignon variety in Buziaș-Silagiu vineyard and the shortest in Pinot Noir variety from Recaș vineyard. Results also show that vines subjected to water stress and high temperatures had shorter main and lateral shoots.