Comparative analysis of metabolic parameters in grapevine cuttings exposed to cold storage

Abstract

Preserving woody crop cuttings in cold storage rooms is critical to maintain their physiological viability and ensure optimal field performance upon transplanting. However, the effect of temperature on the cutting’s metabolic activity during storage, and subsequent transplanting success and growth, remains unknown. This study explores the oxygen consumption (respirations), non-structural carbohydrate (NSCs) dynamics, and antioxidant capacity as an indicator of the physiological resilience of grapevine grafted cuttings stored in darkness at 2.5 °C, 4 °C, and 10 °C in controlled rooms. We measured oxygen concentration in bud, rootstock, and root using an optical oxygen sensor embedded in a hypodermic needle. NSCs were also analysed for the same tissues and antioxidant capacity, measured as Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). Our findings reveal a significant main effect of the investigated tissues, time, and temperature. Oxygen consumption varies significantly across distinct tissues with a gradual increase in respiration rate from 2.5 °C to 10 °C, suggesting altered respiratory activity during prolonged storage at high temperature. NSCs showing earlier sugars and starch accumulations in buds and stems followed by a decline, suggesting early accumulation for cryoprotection and subsequent mobilization, while roots exhibited an initial decrease and then starch recovery, reflecting tissue-specific allocation of NSCs. The antioxidant capacity showed significant effects, with distinct temperature and sugar levels. It increased significantly with higher sugar concentrations in buds and roots, but this trend was not observed in the stem. These findings enhance the understanding of tissue-specific metabolic responses during cold storage and provide valuable insights into the physiology of grapevine cuttings during cold storage conditions.

References

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