Nutrient solution with high nitrogen content, a suitable facilitator of growth and berry quality in hydroponic ‘Shine Muscat’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera × V. labrusca)

Abstract

‘Shine Muscat’ grapevine is one of the most cherished grape varieties in East Asian nations led by Japan in the past 10 years, with the cultivation area has been expanding till now. In order to make a reasonable fertilization plan, this study conferred the effect of Hoagland's nutrient solution on tree growth and berry quality. Five-year-old ‘Shine Muscat’ was cultivated on perlite as test material, and automatic timing devices were used to supply Hoagland's nutrient solution to the plant regularly and quantitatively. Hoagland's nutrient solutions were divided into three treatments, each with different nitrogen (N) content: 60 mg L−1 (N 60), 120 mg L−1 (N 120), and 180 mg L−1 (N 180). The results indicated that under N 120 and N 180 treatments, most of the berry quality-related parameters including total soluble solid (TSS), glucose, fructose, and linalool levels, as well as contents of nutrient elements such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and boron (B), were significantly higher than the other group. Most genes related to N signal (Nitrateassimilation-related protein 1 (NAR1), HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LOW PI-ELICITED PRIMARY ROOT SHORTENING 1 (HRS1)), glucose biosynthesis (Glucan phosphorylase (GI), hexokinase (HXK)), terpenes, alcohols and phenols formation (Trehalose-phosphate synthase (TPS), Geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS), Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), Isomerase (ISO)) were up-regulated, consequently contributing to an overall improvement of berry quality. The above results convincingly established that Hoagland's nutrient solution with higher N content (180 mg L−1) was suitable for grapevine cultivation, which provided a theoretical basis for the high-yield and high-quality production of grapevine.