Ecology and Genetics of Natural Populations of North American Vitis Species Used as Rootstocks in European Grapevine Breeding Programs.

Claire Arnold,Annik Schnitzler

doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00866

Abstract

Three North American Vitis species (V. riparia, V. berlandieri, V. rupestris) became widely used in rootstock breeding programs following the expansion of North American pests and diseases introduced in vineyards of the world during the 19th century. When they escape, they become feral in the most dynamic parts of Mediterranean floodplains. To better understand this ongoing process, we studied the ecology of Vitis species in their native sympatric range. We analyzed in deep 61 plots of 710 m2 containing Vitaceae species along 216 km of the Buffalo River and adjacent plateaus (Arkansas, United States). We investigated the populations structure and genetics of the Vitis complex (i.e., possible hybrids and the Vitis species) and the sharing of habitats with other Vitaceae (Muscadinia rotundifolia and Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Vitaceae share space according to their life strategies and microhabitat along ecological gradients. The plateau niche seems optimal for V. berlandieri and V. aestivalis. V. berlandieri is also found in alluvial zones. The most erosive parts of the river are colonized by V. rupestris, whereas the first terraces include most of the M. rotundifolia populations. Vitis riparia and Parthenocissus live in the largest range of forest habitats, from plateaus to alluvial forests, and from the forest floor to the canopy, with the highest densities along the river. Interestingly, natural hybridization can occur, but establishment success is rare and limited to alluvial forests. In their native range, these populations are controlled by biotic and abiotic conditions. In Europe, the biotic relations among species are different. Our study shows that V. riparia and its hybrids could be the best candidates for a large scale invasion.

Highlights

American Vitis SpeciesIn the 19th century, artificial breeding between North American Vitis species was necessary to produce rootstocks and grape varieties resistant to American pests and diseases
V. vinifera and V. riparia cultivars, the ranges of length values of the PCR fragments were correct and showed polymorphism, ii) all the primers are regularly used on rootstocks and interspecific grape varieties (Lin and Walker, 1998; Upadhyay et al, 2007; Riaz et al, 2019; etc.), and iii) these primers are well distributed across the Vitis genome (Adam-Blondon et al, 2004), we decided to rely on these previous studies and did not sequence the amplified fragments (Arnold et al, 2002)
Hybridization might give potentialities for other Vitis species to adapt to new environments, as observed along the Buffalo River with crossings of V. rupestris and V. riparia, which are present on more erosive parts of alluvial zones, such as islands. This local study only shows trends, but it demonstrates the importance of paying attention at an early stage to the ecology and genetics of related crop species in their native natural environments

Summary

Introduction

In the 19th century, artificial breeding between North American Vitis species was necessary to produce rootstocks and grape varieties resistant to American pests and diseases. Other American species like V. aestivalis Michx were used extensively in rootstock breeding (Einset and Pratt, 1975). American Vitis species are dioecious and interfertile (Heinitz et al, 2019). V. riparia and V. rupestris are known to root from woody cuttings and to graft well with Vitis vinifera (Riaz et al, 2019). It is easy to reproduce them vegetatively and to graft grape varieties on them. The beneficial traits of V. aestivalis are, among others, high vigor, disease resistance and environmental stress tolerance (Mortensen et al, 1990)

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