How Leaf Vein and Stomata Traits Are Related with Photosynthetic Efficiency in Falanghina Grapevine in Different Pedoclimatic Conditions

Abstract

The increase in severe drought events due to climate change in the areas traditionally suitable for viticulture is enhancing the need to understand how grapevines regulate their photosynthetic metabolism in order to forecast specific cultivar adaptive responses to the changing environment. This study aims at evaluating the association between leaf anatomical traits and eco-physiological adjustments of the ‘Falanghina’ grapevine under different microclimatic conditions at four sites in southern Italy. Sites were characterized by different pedoclimatic conditions but, as much as possible, were similar for plant material and cultivation management. Microscopy analyses on leaves were performed to quantify stomata and vein traits, while eco-physiological analyses were conducted on vines to assess plant physiological adaptation capability. At the two sites with relatively low moisture, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, photosystem electron transfer rate, and quantum yield of PSII, linear electron transport was lower compared to the other two sites. Stomata size was higher at the site characterized by the highest precipitation. However, stomatal density and most vein traits tended to be relatively stable among sites. The number of free vein endings per unit leaf area was lower in the two vineyards with low precipitation. We suggest that site-specific stomata and vein traits modulation in Falanghina grapevine are an acclimation strategy that may influence photosynthetic performance. Overall in-depth knowledge of the structure/function relations in Falanghina vines might be useful to evaluate the plasticity of this cultivar towards site-specific management of vineyards in the direction of precision viticulture.

The basalt dust deposition on leaves does not influence the measurement of ecophysiological traits in grapevine

“…It is also worthy of consideration that dust deposition did not perturb the apparent intrinsic water-use efficiency in leaves in the short time occurring between lamina cleaning and measurement. According to a recent study, the stomata length in vines grown in the same experimental site ranged between 25 and 33 µm (Damiano et al 2022a), that is quite similar to the diameter of the basalt dust distributed. However, since the stomatal conductance does not change after the particles have been removed by cleaning, the direct physical interference of the particles at the stomata level can be excluded, according to Glenn and Puterka (2010).…”

Leaf stomatal traits rather than anatomical traits regulate gross primary productivity of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) stands

“…Investigating the coordinated relationships between stomatal traits (at the cellular level) and anatomical traits (at the tissue level) can help to understand the adaptation strategies of plants to heterogeneous environments, and predict the response of plants to climate change ( Osunkoya et al., 2014 ; Stanisci et al., 2020 ; Sellin et al., 2022 ). Traits do not exist alone, they form multiple trait combinations to achieve their functions and enable plants to develop ecological strategies ( Donovan et al., 2011 ; Bruelheide et al., 2018 ; Damiano et al., 2022 ). For instance, there were significant correlations between leaf anatomy (fenestrations and spongy tissue thickness) and stomatal traits (stomatal density and stomatal length) at different canopy positions of poplar clones ( Li et al., 2015 ).…”