Contrasting physiological responses to iron deficiency in CabernetSauvignon grapevines grafted on two rootstocks

Abstract

tThe present work aimed to compare the physiological responses to Fe deficiency in Vitis vinifera L.cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grafted on two Vitis rootstocks with different Fe chlorosis susceptibility: 110Richter (moderately tolerant) and 3309-C (susceptible). Plants were grown in hydroponic solutions with50 M of Fe-EDTA or without Fe. Our data showed that, in a first step (18 days after treatment, DAT),Fe deficiency reduced net photosynthesis in leaves from both variety/rootstock combinations, withoutmodifying leaf chlorophyll concentration. Moreover, Fe deficiency increased the activity of PEPC andNADP+-IDH enzymes and the concentration of malic and total organic acids in roots of both rootstocks.During such period, no differences related to Fe level were recorded in the main shoot length and biomass.After a longer exposure to Fe deficiency (32 DAT), the activity of PEPC and organic acid-linked enzymes inroots of both genotypes remained unaltered. However, at 32 DAT, plants grafted on 110 Richter reacted toFe deficiency by reducing the main shoot length and biomass, whereas such reduction was not observedin plants grafted on 3309-C. In addition, at 32 DAT Fe deficiency reduced the net photosynthesis aswell as the chlorophyll concentration in plants grafted on 3309-C, without modifying these parame-ters in 110 Richter plants. In conclusion, our results revealed significant differences between the twovariety/rootstock combinations in severity of Fe deficiency symptoms and physiological responses.