Interaction of biochemical and nutritional status of nodal sections with rooting success in grape rootstocks.

Abstract

Aim: In India, use of grape rootstock in establishing new vineyard started two decades back. To meet the demand of planting material, selection of mature shoots from the mother vine plays an important role. The planting material should have the ability for callusing, rooting, budding and growth. The present experiment was conducted to study vegetative growth, rooting performance, biochemical changes and mineral nutrition in different nodal section of Dogridge and 110R grape rootstocks after planting under tropical condition. Methodology: The quality of planting material was assessed by different cane segments. The canes were sectioned into 4-bud segment of both the grape rootstocks. The changes in growth pattern, rooting success, biochemical changes and mineral nutrition level through morphological changes were studied. Canes were later planted in nursery to study the relationship between cane quality and root : shoot growth characteristics. Results: Noticeable differences were recorded for cane and pith diameter, cane width : pith ratio, moisture percent and dry matter content in canes and also the C : N ratio. Dogridge rootstock showed higher rooting percent than 110R. However, the rootstock 110R sprouted earlier than Dogridge. The reducing sugar was significantly higher at 9-20 bud position in both the rootstocks. The nutrient status of canes of both the rootstocks showed significant changes for N% and Fe content in different nodal sections. Interpretation: The cuttings prepared from 1 to 12th internodes in Dogridge and 1 to 16th nodes in 110R had better quality in terms of early sprout, better rooting percent, higher shoot length, shoot diameter and highest amount of reducing sugar, proteins, starch, carbohydrates and well balanced root-shoot growth.