Distinct root signaling and anatomy associate with convergent leaf responses to drought and salinity in grapevine rootstocks.

Distinct root anatomical traits and ABA responses underpin different drought and salinity tolerance strategies in grapevine rootstocks, despite similar leaf phenotypes.

• Why it matters: Understanding how different rootstock traits influence stress responses is crucial for improving grapevine resilience amid increasing environmental challenges like drought and salinity.
• What they did: The study examined five grapevine rootstocks grown in an aeroponic system, analyzing ABA dynamics, root anatomy, and ZEP content under drought and salinity conditions.
• The result: Findings show drought triggers water conservation via ABA accumulation and root endodermal suberisation, while salinity causes biomass redistribution with minimal ABA change, enabling targeted resilience breeding.