Graft incompatibility in fruit trees in early detection: integrating physiological, molecular, and technological...

This review highlights that integrating physiological, molecular, imaging, and AI-based approaches enables early and reliable detection of graft incompatibility, improving rootstock-scion selection, orchard sustainability, fruit productivity, and long-term tree performance. One of the most serious problems in fruit growing is the breaking, weakening, or dying of the tree at the graft union, either within a short period of time or after 10-15 years. This condition is often triggered by environmental factors; however, it is certainly not solely caused by environmental conditions. This problem is defined as graft incompatibility. Graft incompatibility refers to the failure of successful anatomical and physiological integration between a rootstock and a scion, primarily due to biochemical, molecular, and genetic mismatches that impair vascular reconnection and long-term stability of the graft union. Graft incompatibility remains a significant constraint in fruit tree production, resulting in reduced longevity, yield, and quality of orchards. This review integrates recent advancements in physiological, molecular, and technological approaches for the early detection of graft incompatibility, with special emphasis on Prunus species such as sweet cherry. Physiological and biochemical markers, including phenolic accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and isozyme patterns, serve as early indicators of incompatibility. At the molecular level, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and epigenetic analyses have revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and post-translational modifications associated with stress signaling, vascular reconnection, and callus formation. Imaging-based non-destructive technologies such as micro-CT, MRI, terahertz, and hyperspectral imaging now allow real-time visualization of graft-union structures without damaging plant tissues. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with multi-omics datasets and imaging tools offers unprecedented potential for predictive diagnosis and compatibility assessment. Collectively, these multidisciplinary advances are reshaping the detection and management of graft incompatibility, enabling faster, more reliable, and sustainable rootstock-scion selection in fruit tree breeding.