Carbon isotope labeling to detect source-sink relationships in grapevines upon drought stress and re-watering

This Carbon Isotope labelling experiment used to detect source-sink movements in grapevines in response to drought stress and rewatering was intended to better understand Carbon cycle in plants in a scenario of climatic changes. 

In the future we expect even more rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, alternated with intense rainfall. These extreme events will affect the plant carbon dynamics. Grapevine is a plant that adapts well to stress, which is correltaed to grape quality.

Kinetics of carbon allocation in the different plant sinks (root-shoot-fruit) competing in drought stressed and rehydrated grapevines have been investigated. A plant growth chamber for stable isotope labeling has been set in an environmental control system, basing on pulse-chasing isotopic strategy to trace carbon phloem flows on potted grapevines. In addition, an open-air plant/soil growth system consisting in twelve independent plant/pot balloons with computing-adjustable air flows allowing continuous gas exchange detection between plants/soil and atmosphere has been set.

Did water stress cause a drastic decrease in the photosynthesis rate and a decrease in the respiration rate of the soil? After rehydration did the plants fully recover the photosynthetic capacity? Sugar accumulation, acidity and grape production were different in plants subjected to continuous stress compared to rehydrated plants? What about the microbial biomass throughout the season, did it vary over a period of time between irrigated and rehydrated plants? IS the total C sent to the berry greater in recovery than in irrigation control?

Delivery of labeled carbon in different sinks is discussed in parallel with the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate transport.

Video of the seminar held during Macrowine virtual (June 23-30, 2021)

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