Rootstock influenced metabolite changes during progressive salt stress conditions in Thompson Seedless grape

Abstract

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is a perennial fruit crop grown in the tropical and subtropical agro-climatic zones of India and suffers from moisture and salinity stress. In the present study, the effect of rootstock on metabolite changes in ‘Thompson Seedless’ under salt stress was studied. Grafted and own-rooted vines showed differential response to salt stress. Among 24 metabolites, proline, ornithine, and norleucine significantly accumulated in salt-treated own-rooted vines as compared to grafted vines whereas phenolics content of grafted vines was higher than the own-rooted vines. Accumulation of Na+ and Cl- were observed in the leaves of stressed own-rooted vines within three days of salt treatment as compared to 15 days in grafted vines. Principal component analysis revealed rootstock specific respons e to the stress