Root system response to salt stress in grapevines (Vitis spp.): A link between root structure and salt exclusion

Accessing freshwater resources for agriculture becomes more complex due to increasing demands and declining water quality. Alternative water sources, such as saline water, require ad hoc solutions. Therefore, understanding roots' response to saline water is crucial for future agriculture. We examined the response of three grapevine rootstocks (Paulsen 1103, Richter 110 and SO4) to salt stress. The rootstocks were subjected to two salinity treatments: 10 mM and 30 mM NaCl (EC = 2 and 4 ds/m, respectively). Root and shoot samples were taken at the end of the experiment for morphologic and ionomic analyses. The specific root area (SRA) increased in response to salinity for all three rootstocks due to root tissue density and average root diameter reductions. Salinity also led to increased root Na⁺ and Cl^- contents and reduced root K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, parallel to increased leaf Cl^- but not Na⁺ contents. SO4 showed improved chloride and sodium exclusion, concomitant with its highest SRA, resulting from the increase in its thin roots' contribution to the total root system surface area. We suggest that enhanced SRA combined with decreased root tissue density and diameter may improve grapevines' salt exclusion by less salt uptake from the soil.