Distinct root signaling and anatomy associate with convergent leaf responses to drought and salinity in grapevine rootstocks.
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Distinct root anatomical traits and ABA responses underpin different drought and salinity tolerance strategies in grapevine rootstocks, despite similar leaf phenotypes.
- Why it matters: Understanding how different rootstock traits influence stress responses is crucial for improving grapevine resilience amid increasing environmental challenges like drought and salinity.
- What they did: The study examined five grapevine rootstocks grown in an aeroponic system, analyzing ABA dynamics, root anatomy, and ZEP content under drought and salinity conditions.
- The result: Findings show drought triggers water conservation via ABA accumulation and root endodermal suberisation, while salinity causes biomass redistribution with minimal ABA change, enabling targeted resilience breeding.