Alleviating the adverse effects of deficit irrigation in Flame seedless grapevine via Paulsen interstock

Abstract Using interstock with a potential genetic base is considered more recent and sustainable strategy for mitigating the water deficit. This investigation was carried out on transplant of Flame seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapevine grafted onto two rootstocks namely; Freedom (Vitis champinii x 1613C) and 1103Paulsen (vitis berlandieri x Vitis rupestris) with or without 1103Paulsen as interstock to determine its performance under deficit irrigation condition (50% of field capacity). The results indicated that Paulsen as rootstock or as interstock significantly increased the growth vigor of Flame seedless scion as well as the leaf content of total proline, phenols and sugars. Paulsen rootstock has decreased stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration rate and increased diffusion resistance under 50% deficit irrigation compared with grafting on Freedom rootstock. Moreover, Paulsen as interstock for Flame seedless grafted onto Freedom rootstock significantly increased relative water content accompanied by an increase in thickness of leaf anatomical characters such as midvein, lamina, palisade, xylem and phloem tissue under deficit irrigation compared with grafts without Paulsen interstock. This study suggests that using Paulsen as interstock, can be an adaptation strategy for water stress through controlling in some morphological, chemical physiological and anatomical responses of scion.