Connection matters: exploring the implications of scion–rootstock alignment in grafted grapevines

Abstract

Background and Aims: Grafting in viticulture has been essential since the advent of the phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century, but relatively little is known about the relevance of the quality of the connection at the grafting junction on the behaviour of grafted grapevines. Methods and Results: An experimental procedure comparing omega grafted vines with complete alignment of the scion and the rootstock (CA) and vines with partial alignment (PA) was developed. Three complementary trials were carried out in the nursery, in the field and under controlled conditions. The CA vines increased the success rate in the nursery. Vine growth was significantly affected by the alignment between the rootstock and scion both in the nursery and in their first year of establishment in a commercial vineyard and in a potted trial, although these differences dissipated in years 2 and 3 under commercial vineyard conditions. The CA graft also maintained a higher level of leaf gas exchange, but such differences did not correspond to those in the hydraulic conductivity across the graft union itself. Conclusions: The degree of alignment of the grafted vine material affected vine development, but a better understanding of the role of vascular connections in different graft types and qualities is needed. Significance of the Study: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific study that developed an experimental procedure for assessing the implication of the alignment at the grafting point on grapevine physiology and water use.

X-ray imaging of 30 year old wine grape wood reveals cumulative impacts of rootstocks on scion secondary growth and Ravaz index

“…Although the extent of alignment between rootstock and scion was not evaluated in this study, vines with complete alignment may have higher levels of transpiration than those with partial alignment, indicating that the success of grafting itself may also play a role in physiological differences. However, in previous work this did not correspond to hydraulic conductivity differences measured in three year old vines at the end of the study [ 40 ].…”

“…For example, in a recent study of the effects of alignment of scion and rootstock, vine growth was significantly impacted in the nursery and the first year of establishment when there was partial alignment. However, in years 2 and 3, these differences disappeared [ 40 ].…”

X-ray imaging of 30 year old wine grape wood reveals cumulative impacts of rootstocks on scion secondary growth and harvest index

“…Although the extent of alignment between rootstock and scion was not evaluated in this study, vines with complete alignment may have higher levels of transpiration than those with partial alignment, indicating that the success of grafting itself may also play a role in physiological differences. However, in previous work this did not correspond to hydraulic conductivity differences across the graft measured in three year old vines at the end of the study (Marín et al , 2022).…”

“…For example, in a recent study of the effects of alignment of scion and rootstock, vine growth was significantly impacted in the nursery and the first year of establishment when there was partial alignment. However, in years 2 and 3, these differences disappeared (Marín et al , 2022).…”