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Review
. 2020 Dec 2:11:610352.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.610352. eCollection 2020.

Identifying Molecular Markers of Successful Graft Union Formation and Compatibility

Grégoire Loupit  1 , Sarah Jane Cookson  1
Affiliations
Review

Identifying Molecular Markers of Successful Graft Union Formation and Compatibility

Grégoire Loupit et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Grafting is a technique used for millennia for vegetative propagation, especially in perennial fruit crops. This method, used on woody and herbaceous plants, can improve several agronomic characteristics, such as yield or vigor, as well as tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, some scion/rootstock combinations suffer from poor graft compatibility, i.e., they are unable to form and/or sustain a successful graft union. Identifying symptoms of graft incompatibility is difficult because they are not always present in the first years after grafting and in most cases the causes of incompatibility are still poorly understood. Studies of changes in transcript abundance during graft union formation indicate that grafting responses are similar to responses to wounding and include the differential expression of genes related to hormone signaling, oxidative stress, formation of new vascular vessels, cell development, and secondary metabolites, in particular polyphenols. This review summarizes current knowledge of the changes in transcript abundance, redox status and metabolites accumulation during graft union formation and in cases of graft incompatibility. The goal of this review is to discuss the possibility of identifying marker transcripts, enzyme activities and/or metabolites of grafting success and graft compatibility which could be used to score grafting success for genetic research and in breeding programs. We highlight gaps in current knowledge and potential research directions in this field.

Keywords: graft incompatibility; grafting; oxidative stress; polyphenols; scion and rootstock; transcripts.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of (A) the transcripts and proteins accumulated at the graft interface during graft union formation (stars indicate the transcripts and proteins which are more highly accumulated in hetero-grafts vs. homo-grafts, and/or incompatible vs. compatible combinations), (B) a photograph of a cross section of a homo-graft interface, 4 months after grafting, illustrating the appearance of necrosis, callus and vascular continuity, and (C) the sequence of events underlying graft union formation. PALs, PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASEs; UGPase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase; 4CL, 4-COUMARATE:COA LIGASE; ROS, reactive oxygen species.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photographs of the graft interface of homo-grafts of grapevine 4 months after grafting showing decreasing levels of tissue continuity between the scion (S) and rootstock (R). Necrosis in the callus tissue is absent in (A), small amounts of necrosis are indicated in by red arrows in (B) and (C), and poor tissue continuity in (D). Graft interface indicated by a dashed line.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photograph of grafted grapevines showing symptoms of graft incompatibility 10 years after grafting.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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