Grapevine rootstock effects on abiotic stress tolerance

Amongst 60 species within the Vitis genus, Vitis vinifera L. is the mostly used species for the production of wine and distilled liquors. Before the devastation of European viticulture caused by the introduction of phylloxera from North America, varieties of V. vinifera used commercially for wine production in Europe were traditionally grown on their own roots. Subsequently, the use of rootstocks from the pest's origin was introduced to provide resistance to this and other deleterious diseases and to save the fate of European viticulture. Rootstocks have been bred from a number of Vitis species and are known, in addition to the enhanced resistance to phylloxera and other pathogens, confer tolerance to abiotic stresses (e.g. drought, high salinity and Fe-deficiency) and to alter specific aspects of harvest/postharvest fruit quality of a scion. This review summarizes recent data related to the responses of grapevine rootstocks to abiotic stresses, with particular attention to drought, salinity and iron chlorosis.