Response of three clones of Nebbiolo (V. vinifera L.) to four environments of North-West Italy.

The response of three widespread ‘Nebbiolo’ clones (142, 308 and 423), was evaluated to assess the influence of different environmental conditions on their performances in the cool area of North-West Italy. The clones were studied during three years (2003-05) in four locations: Donnas (steep mountain area, dry and rocky soil with a pH of 6.2), Monforte d’Alba (hilly area, loamy and calcareous soil with a pH of 8.1), Lessona (plain area, dry and silty soil with a pH of 5.0) and Roero (hilly area, dry and sandy soil with pH of 6.5). The study was focused on phenological dates, agronomic parameters, must quality, berry skin anthocyanin composition and wine quality. The aptitudes of the three clones reported in the National catalogue ranged from high (142) to low (423) vegetative vigour and yield. Quality was supposed higher in 423 and lower in 142. The given features of 308 were intermediate between the previous two. The clones with marked aptitudes (142 and 423) performed very differently depending on the cultivation site. Grape and wine quality were better with the vigorous and yielding 142 in the sites characterized by limiting environmental conditions, whereas the low vigour and low yield 423 gave the best results in favourable situations. The results stress the importance of the investigations on genotype-environment interactions in order to properly choose the suitable propagation material before establishing a new vineyard.