Vines develop stress memory in droughts

New research on Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines grown in Chile’s arid zone found signs that vines exposed to repeated drought may develop a form of “stress memory,” helping them use water more efficiently and recover more strongly when irrigation returns.

The study, led by Denisse Zamorano and colleagues, compared three treatments: control, single-drought, and double-drought. Double-drought vines showed higher water-use efficiency and stronger recovery post-rewatering.

Researchers suggest this “stress memory” could aid vineyards facing climate-driven droughts. However, the experiment used young vines in containers, not commercial vineyards. The findings, published in IVES OpenScience, highlight potential for adaptive irrigation strategies in water-scarce regions.