Genetic similarity, morphological, and biochemical changes in micrografted grapes explants of Flame Seedless x Freedom

Abstract

The explants were used as a rootstock of the Freedom grape cultivar and Flame Seedless cultivar as a scion in vitro micrografting. The in vitro obtained explants were considered as explants and cultured on MS media containing 0.4 mgL-1 BAP. Six methods of micro grafting; sterile wire tie, sterile metal needle, wax, aluminum foil, gel and callus were used. Survival percentage, number of shoots and explants, shoot length, number of leaves per shoot, rooting percentage, root length, and callus percentage were all recorded as morphological parameters. Biochemical analysis was performed to determine phenols; flavonoids content and oxidising enzymes activity in Flame Seedless and Freedom. Results recorded that all methods of in vitro micrografting succeeded in yielding grafts between rootstock with scion with success in wax method followed by aluminium foil, sterile wire tie, sterile metal needle, gel, and callus methods in descending order. The best success rate of micrografting was obtained by the micro grafting method of wax as recorded with the best results of morphological criteria as the highest survival (83.88%), number shoots/explants (1.77), shoot length (1.66 cm), leaves/shoot (4.55), rooting (58.20%), root length (1.27 cm) and callus (55.55). The study suggests that this treatment might be a promising alternative to traditional grapevine propagation methods.