Abstract:By using self-made wooden boxes with two separated zones, the grapevine Vitis vinifera cv. Malvasia (M) grafted on rootstocks 3309C, 420A and 110R, respectively, was planted, and the physiological and biochemical responses of these scion/rootstock combinations to bilateral alternative irrigation (AI) and unilateral irrigation (UI) were studied. The results showed that in treatments AI and UI, the average leaf ABA content of test scion/rootstock combinations increased by 267.5% and 394.7%, respectively, while stomatal conduction and transpiration decreased markedly. In treatment UI, the leaf SOD and CAT activities and Pro content were notably enhanced, with the greatest increment in M/110R and followed by in M/420A and M/3309C; while in treatment AI, the leaf SOD and CAT activities of test scion/rootstock combinations enhanced slightly and Pro content increased markedly. UI induced a remarkable increase of leaf relative electronic conductivity and MDA and H2O2 contents, with the highest increment in M/3309C and the lowest in M/110R. In summary, the drought resistance of different scion/rootstock combinations grapevine mainly depended on the variety of rootstock. 110R had a higher drought-resistance than 420A and 3309C. Comparing with unilateral irrigation, bilateral alternative irrigation had lesser damage to grapevine, being a profitable water-saving irrigation technique.