Differences in hydraulic traits of grapevine rootstocks are not conferred to a common Vitis vinifera scion

Authors: BARRIOS-MASIAS, FELIPE - University Of Nevada; KNIPFER, THORSTEN - University Of California; WALKER, M. ANDREW - University Of California; McElrone, Andrew

Submitted to: Functional Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2018
Publication Date: 11/12/2018
Citation: Barrios-Masias, F., Knipfer, T., Walker, M., McElrone, A.J. 2018. Differences in hydraulic traits of grapevine rootstocks are not conferred to a common Vitis vinifera scion. Functional Plant Biology. 46:228-235. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP18110.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/FP18110

Interpretive Summary: Cultivars of grapevine are commonly grafted onto rootstocks to improve resistance against biotic and abiotic stress, however, it is not clear whether known differences in hydraulic traits are conferred from rootstocks to a common scion. We recently found that V. riparia and V. champinii differed in drought-induced embolism susceptibility and repair, which was related to differences in root pressure generation after rewatering (Knipfer et al. 2015). In the current study, we tested whether these and other physiological responses to drought are conferred to a common V. vinifera scion (Cabernet Sauvignon) grafted on V. riparia and V. champinii rootstocks. We measured xylem embolism formation/repair using in-vivo microCT imaging, which was accompanied with analysis of leaf gas exchange, osmotic adjustment and root pressure. Our data indicates that differences in scion physiological behavior for both rootstock combinations were negligible, suggesting that the sensitivity of Cabernet Sauvignon scion to xylem embolism formation/repair, leaf gas exchange and osmotic adjustment is unaffected by either V. riparia or V. champinii rootstock in response to drought stress.

Technical Abstract: Cultivars of grapevine are commonly grafted onto rootstocks to improve resistance against biotic and abiotic stress, however, it is not clear whether known differences in hydraulic traits are conferred from rootstocks to a common scion. We recently found that V. riparia and V. champinii differed in drought-induced embolism susceptibility and repair, which was related to differences in root pressure generation after rewatering (Knipfer et al. 2015). In the current study, we tested whether these and other physiological responses to drought are conferred to a common V. vinifera scion (Cabernet Sauvignon) grafted on V. riparia and V. champinii rootstocks. We measured xylem embolism formation/repair using in-vivo microCT imaging, which was accompanied with analysis of leaf gas exchange, osmotic adjustment and root pressure. Our data indicates that differences in scion physiological behavior for both rootstock combinations were negligible, suggesting that the sensitivity of Cabernet Sauvignon scion to xylem embolism formation/repair, leaf gas exchange and osmotic adjustment is unaffected by either V. riparia or V. champinii rootstock in response to drought stress.