Reinvigoration/Rejuvenation Induced through Micrografting of Tree Species: Signaling through Graft Union

Abstract

Trees have a distinctive and generally long juvenile period during which vegetative growth rate is rapid and floral organs do not differentiate. Among trees, the juvenile period can range from 1 year to 15-20 years, although with some forest tree species, it can be longer. Vegetative propagation of trees is usually much easier during the juvenile phase than with mature phase materials. Therefore, reversal of maturity is often necessary in order to obtain materials in which rooting ability has been restored. Micrografting has been developed for trees to address reinvigoration/rejuvenation of elite selections to facilitate vegetative propagation. Generally, shoots obtained after serial grafting have increased rooting competence and develop juvenile traits; in some cases, graft-derived shoots show enhanced in vitro proliferation. Recent advances in graft signaling have shown that several factors, e.g., plant hormones, proteins, and different types of RNA, could be responsible for changes in the scion. The focus of this review includes (1) a discussion of the differences between the juvenile and mature growth phases in trees, (2) successful restoration of juvenile traits through micrografting, and (3) the nature of the different signals passing through the graft union.

Keywords: in vitro grafting; long distance signaling; reinvigoration; rejuvenation; rooting capacity; woody plants.

Figure 1

Hypocotyl micrografting in olive. Graft establishment through insertion of nodal section with lateral buds onto the hypocotyl; a silicone ring is used to hold the graft union (A). Sprouted shoots after 8 weeks in OM medium supplemented with zeatin (B). Bar: 1 cm.