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Rootstock scion somatogenetic interactions in perennial composite plants

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Abstract

The ancient plant production practice of grafting which instantly imparts new physiological properties to the desirable scion still remains shrouded in mystery. Yet, grafting remains a widely used technique in the production of several horticultural species. In a composite grafted plant, rootstocks control many aspects of scion growth and physiology including yield and quality attributes as well as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Broadly, physical, physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms have been reviewed to develop an integrated understanding of this enigmatic process that challenges existing genetic paradigms. This review summarizes the reported mechanisms underlying some of the economically important traits and identifies several key points to consider when conducting rootstock scion interaction experiments. Study of the somatogenetic interactions between rootstock and scion is a field that is ripe for discovery and vast improvements in the coming decade. Further, utilization of rootstocks based on a better understanding of the somatogenetic interactions is highly relevant in the current agricultural environment where there is a need for sustainable production practices. Rootstocks may offer a non-transgenic approach to rapidly respond to the changing environment and expand agricultural production of annual and perennial crops where grafting is feasible in order to meet the global food, fiber and fuel demands of the future.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank Dr. Kate Evans, Pome Fruit Breeder, Washington State University for useful discussions and critical reading of the manuscript. TK acknowledges support received from NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Program T32GM008336 and ARCS fellowship.

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  1. Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, 149 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Tyson Koepke & Amit Dhingra

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  1. Tyson Koepke
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Correspondence to Tyson Koepke or Amit Dhingra.

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Communicated by P. Lakshmanan.

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Koepke, T., Dhingra, A. Rootstock scion somatogenetic interactions in perennial composite plants. Plant Cell Rep 32, 1321–1337 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1471-9

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