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Symbiosis With Rhizophagus irregularis Improves Grapevine Rootstock Performances Under Water Deficit Conditions
Lucas Galimand1, Martin Lamy1, Laure Valat1
1Université de Haute Alsace, Laboratoire Vigne Biotechnologies et Environnement, UR 3991, Colmar, France.
Physiologia Plantarum
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis enhances grapevine growth and photosynthesis under drought stress. However, effects on mineral nutrition and aquaporin expression vary significantly between rootstock genotypes like 41B and SO4.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Agronomy
- Mycology
Background:
- Grapevine cultivation is vital but threatened by drought due to climate change.
- Water deficit negatively impacts grapevine growth, yield, and fruit/wine quality.
- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) symbiosis offers a promising strategy to enhance drought resilience in grapevines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the benefits of Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 in improving grapevine rootstock performance under water deficit.
- To compare the responses of two distinct grapevine rootstocks (41B and SO4) to AMF inoculation under varying water availability.
- To analyze the impact of mycorrhization on mineral nutrition and aquaporin gene expression in grapevines under drought stress.
Main Methods:
- Controlled experiments were conducted on grapevine rootstocks 41B and SO4 under well-watered and water-deficit conditions.
- Plants were inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 to establish functional symbiosis.
- Growth parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, mineral nutrient concentrations, and aquaporin gene expression (VvPIP2.1) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Rhizophagus irregularis colonization successfully established symbiosis in both rootstocks, irrespective of water status.
- AMF inoculation significantly improved growth and photosynthetic parameters in both 41B and SO4, particularly under water stress, restoring them to non-stressed levels.
- Mycorrhization enhanced phosphorus concentration in both rootstocks, with more pronounced overall mineral nutrition benefits in SO4. VvPIP2.1 expression increased in 41B but decreased in SO4 roots.
Conclusions:
- AMF-grapevine interaction elicits contrasting effects on plant nutrition and physiology, contingent upon the rootstock genotype.
- Mycorrhizal inoculation can be a valuable tool for enhancing drought tolerance in sensitive grapevine rootstocks.
- Understanding rootstock-specific responses to AMF is crucial for optimizing drought management strategies in viticulture.
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