Foliar Application of Abscisic Acid Induces Dormancy Responses in Greenhouse-grown Grapevines

Abstract

<jats:p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of foliar application of abscisic acid (ABA) on grapevine dormancy, specifically to: 1) determine the optimum foliar application concentration of ABA and 2) evaluate the morphological and physiological changes of greenhouse-grown grapevines in response to exogenous ABA application. <jats:italic>Vitis vinifera</jats:italic> ‘Cabernet Franc’ and <jats:italic>Vitis</jats:italic> spp. ‘Chambourcin’ with different leaf ages (40, 50, 80, 100, 110, and 120 days) were subjected to foliar ABA application at different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1600, and 3200 mg·L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) and to a cold-acclimated regime. Concentrations of 800 mg·L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> or higher were phytotoxic and the optimum concentrations were between 400 and 600 mg·L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>. Optimum concentrations of ABA inhibited shoot growth and advanced growth cessation, periderm formation, and leaf senescence, which led to advanced dormancy in both cultivars. In this study, it was concluded that exogenous ABA induced endodormancy because single cuttings (not paradormant) under favorable growing conditions (not ecodormant) were used. Furthermore, grapevine response to ABA was influenced by leaf age and cold treatment. ABA was effective in inhibiting shoot growth and increasing periderm formation in the young vines with 40- to 50-day old leaves and the old grapevines with 80- to 120-day old leaves. However, ABA was effective in inducing early shoot cessation, leaf senescence and abscission, and dormancy in old vines with 100- to 120-day old leaves only. The advanced morphological and physiological changes induced by exogenous ABA mimicked those triggered by environmental cues during the cold acclimation process. It was suggested that advancing the cold acclimation process using foliar ABA application may be beneficial for long-season grape cultivars grown in regions with short growing seasons and early fall frost events.</jats:p>

Role of exogenous abscisic acid in adapting of ‘Sultana’ grapevine to low-temperature stress

“…Exogenous ABA constantly inhibited cane growth and resulted in intensive internodes in ABA-treated grapevines, which is in line with the results observed in rice (Hoffmann-Benning and Kende 1992), apple (Guak and Fuchigami 2001) and grapevines (Zhang et al 2011). This study also confirmed that foliar ABA was effective in the development of cane periderm in the ABA-treated grapevines.…”

“…The water content is a key factor affecting susceptibility and resistance of grapevine canes and buds to LTS. In previous researches (Ma et al 2010;Zhang et al 2011), the negative correlation between tissue water content and FT was reported and recommended as a physiological index for FT evaluation of grapevine cultivars. Our data indicated that the leaf RWC of 'Sultana' grapevines decreased under cold stress, which is consistent with prior reports showing the reduction in tissue water content during cold acclimation in woody plants such as silver birch (Li et al 2003), Rhododendron spp.…”

“…Many approaches have been developed to alleviate the impact of LTS in growing plants, such as genetic modification, application of novel cultural practices and chemicals in vineyards (Dami and Beam 2004;Meng et al 2008). Abscisic acid, a recognized plant stress hormone and growth inhibitor, has been shown to be an effective plant growth regulator in induction of cold acclimation and dormancy development in woody plant (Li et al 2003;Verslues and Zhu 2005;Zhang et al 2011). In plant tissues, changes in the endogenous ABA content after exposure to LTS is assumed to be probably associated with subsequent increase in freezing tolerance (FT) of plants during the hardening phase (Faltusová-Kadlecová et al 2002).…”

“…All three morpho-physiolocical changes involved in cold acclimation (including shoot growth cessation, leaf abscission and periderm formation) were evaluated based on Zhang et al (2011). The main shoot was selected per vine before ABA application and marked at 15 cm from the tip.…”

Cold Stress-Induced Disease Resistance (SIDR): indirect effects of low temperatures on host-pathogen interactions and disease progress in the grapevine powdery mildew pathosystem

“…In mature tissue, exposure to ABA induced cold dormancy, and accelerated periderm formation and leaf senescence (Zhang et al 2011) in already mature leaves. This typical plant response (acclimation of cold hardiness, including development of periderm formation and leaf senescence) is usually the plant response to low environmental stimuli such as reduced light and changing temperatures (Ferguson et al 2011).…”