Drought and salt stress alter the mineral composition of grapevines

Abstract

Minerals are essential for plant metabolism, serving as crucial components of enzymes, structural elements, and signaling molecules. Stress-induced changes in mineral uptake and distribution can disrupt these physiological functions, compromising plant health and resilience. Understanding how drought and salt stress affect the mineral composition of vine saplings is essential for identifying potential nutrient deficiencies or imbalances that may arise in stressed environments. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of combined and separately applied drought and salt stress on the mineral contents of vine saplings. For this purpose, a trial was carried out with potted own-rooted “Alphonse Lavallée” (AL), three rootstocks (1103 P, 41 B, and 5 BB) and also AL grafted onto these rootstocks. 0, 50, and 100 mM of NaCl for salt stress and 25%, 50%, and 100% water levels of evapotranspiration (ETP) for water stress in combined and separately were applied to vines during two years. At the end of the experiment, the highest foliar damage was found in 41 B rootstock treated with 100 mM NaCl + 25% ETP and Alphonse Lavallée grafted onto 5 BB treated with 50 mM NaCl + 25% ETP in the first and second year, respectively. Saplings were significantly affected by salt and water stress in terms of mineral contents, which varied depending on whether they were grafted or not. Particularly in grafted AL, the amount of Cl was low, but the Nacontent was high compared to own-rooted Alphonse Lavallée and rootstocks.