Resumen

PIRE, R.  y  DIEZ, J.. The grapevine root growth under the tropical condition (10º 01' N) of Tarabana, Lara State, Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.4, pp.459-470. ISSN 0378-7818.

The evaluation of grapevine root growth under tropical conditions during the season is important to properly schedule different vineyard labors. With the objective of quantify the development of new rootlets, soil samples were periodically collected around plants of the rootstock `Criolla Negra' in Tarabana (10º01'N, 510 m above sea level), Lara State, Venezuela. Samplings were performed at 15 cm intervals from surface to 75 cm deep in alleys and vine rows. The experiment was arranged in a factorial set of treatments with five depths and two sites per sampling. The highest root lenght density was found at the beginning of the season, previous to flowering, bearing a decreasing growth pattern with the lowest values during the rest period, following the harvest. However, two months after the high initial activity, there was a slight flush of new growth. This suggest that grapevine root growth in the tropics has a different pattern as compared to that in temperate regions. Root lenght density decreased with depth but no differences were found between site samplings. No effect was detected on especific root lenght indicating that there was no define pattern on spatial distribution of roots with different thickness.

Palabras clave : Vitis sp.; grape; roots; seasonal growth.