Intraspecific Leaf Trait Variation across and within Five Common Wine Grape Varieties

Area of Science:

• Plant Ecology
• Agronomy
• Genetics

Background:

• The Leaf Economics Spectrum (LES) describes trade-offs in plant leaf traits, crucial for agroecosystem function.
• Limited research exists on within-species variation of LES traits in major crops like wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.).

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify variation in nine leaf traits across five wine grape varieties at two growth stages.
• To investigate the drivers (variety, growth stage, location) of this intraspecific LES variation.
• To understand the implications of trait variation for crop domestication and agroecosystem processes.

Main Methods:

• Measured nine leaf traits (e.g., photosynthesis, leaf nitrogen, LMA) on 90 Vitis vinifera vines.
• Analyzed trait variation across five distinct wine grape varieties.
• Assessed trait differences between two growth stages (post-flowering and veraison) and spatial locations.

Main Results:

• Grape leaf traits exhibited an intraspecific LES, similar to wild plants, with high photosynthesis and nitrogen linked to low LMA.
• Variety identity strongly predicted physiological and morphological traits, while growth stage influenced chemical traits and LMA.
• All varieties showed increased resource-conserving traits (higher LMA, lower N, lower A_mass) later in the season.

Conclusions:

• Genetic (variety) and developmental (growth stage) factors significantly shape leaf trait variation in wine grapes.
• Intraspecific LES variation in crops like grapes follows patterns seen in wild species.
• Domestication may play a key role in structuring trait relationships within crop species.