Effects of Fe-deficient chlorosis on growth and fruit quality of grapevine

Trails were carried out with 6-year-old bushes of 2 grape cultivars (Zizhenxiang and Fujiminori) severely sensitive to chlorosis and 2 cultivars (Blush Seedless and Muscat Hamburg) non-sensitive to chlorosis grown on calcareous soil for studying the effects of Fe-deficiency on the growth and fruit quality by assessing chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis of leaves at different shoot positions and analyzing fruit set ratio and fruit quality. The results showed that chlorosis caused poor growth. Grapevines that developed severe chlorosis appeared gradually light-middle-severe chlorosis leaves. Compared with normal leaves, the chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis of chlorotic leaves were significantly decreased. The chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis of leaves decreased gradually with increase of degree of leaves chlorosis. The vines of Zizhenxiang and Fujiminori cultivars suffering from severe chlorosis had lower or no yield and bad fruit quality compared with those normal vines. .