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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359588
Title: Developing a model system to identify main mechanisms involved in nitrogen growth responses of grafted grapevines

Author
item ROSSDEUTSCH, L - Oregon State University
item Schreiner, Roger - Paul
item SKINKIS, P - Oregon State University
item DELUC, L - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In grafted grapevines, the growth potential (vigor) of the scion results from the three-way interaction between the environment, the scion genotype, and the rootstock genotype. Since Nitrogen (N) availability is a major driver of grapevine growth, understanding N metabolism regulation by both grafting partners could lead to new insights on their control on plant vigor. We are developing a model system to study N regulation by evaluating the responses to N supply among 6 scion/rootstock (S/R) combinations with known differences in vigor for both partners. The primary objective is to understand the influence of scion and rootstock separately on growth parameters and resource allocation. We measured stem growth during two seasons and biomass, carbon (C) and N allocation patterns in four plants tissues (leaves, stem, trunk and roots) at the end of the first season. Preliminary results supported the expected vigor behavior of the three Pinot noir scions grafted to the same rootstock. This was not true for the four rootstocks grafted to the same scion. Allocation of C and N metabolites was altered by N treatment in favor of perennial plant parts. During the second year, N-starvation treatment of the same plants revealed differences in the capacity of rootstocks to remobilize reserves to sustain scion growth. This experiment was the first step in a broad range project that will evaluate the interaction response of scions and rootstocks to N supply.

Technical Abstract: In grafted grapevines, the growth potential (vigor) of the scion results from the three-way interaction between the environment, the scion genotype, and the rootstock genotype. Since Nitrogen (N) availability is a major driver of grapevine growth, understanding N metabolism regulation by both grafting partners could lead to new insights on their control on plant vigor. We are developing a model system to study N regulation by evaluating the responses to N supply among 6 scion/rootstock (S/R) combinations with known differences in vigor for both partners. The primary objective is to understand the influence of scion and rootstock separately on growth parameters and resource allocation. We measured stem growth during two seasons and biomass, carbon (C) and N allocation patterns in four plants tissues (leaves, stem, trunk and roots) at the end of the first season. Preliminary results supported the expected vigor behavior of the three Pinot noir scions grafted to the same rootstock. This was not true for the four rootstocks grafted to the same scion. Allocation of C and N metabolites was altered by N treatment in favor of perennial plant parts. During the second year, N-starvation treatment of the same plants revealed differences in the capacity of rootstocks to remobilize reserves to sustain scion growth. This experiment was the first step in a broad range project that will evaluate the interaction response of scions and rootstocks to N supply.