Nitrogen status defines grapevine metabolic response to sulfur deficiency.

Nitrogen status influences grapevine metabolic response to sulfur deficiency, with sulfur deficiency causing a massive accumulation of nitrogen-rich amino acids and increased transpiration.

• Why it matters: Understanding how nutrient deficiencies affect grapevine physiology is crucial for improving crop management and wine quality amid changing environmental conditions, especially as sulfur fertilization becomes more necessary.
• What they did: The study used non-targeted metabolomics and ionomics to analyze grapevines under controlled sulfur and nitrogen conditions, revealing distinct metabolic markers and interactions between nutrient statuses.
• The result: Findings show that sulfur deficiency impairs water use efficiency and disrupts nutrient balance, emphasizing the importance of integrated nitrogen and sulfur management to enhance crop resilience and metabolic stability.