Nitric oxide and abscisic acid regulate osmo-protective and antioxidative mechanisms related to water stress tolerance of grapevines

MARIELA PONTIN; GERMÁN MURCIA; RUBÉN BOTTINI; ARIEL FONTANA; LEONARDO BOLCATO; PATRICIA PICCOLI

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021

1322-7130

Background and Aims: Exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO) and abscisic acid(ABA) are known to improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress. The effects of NOand ABA applications on physiological and metabolic responses associated with vineprotection against water stress were analyzed.Methods and Results: The responses to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside(hereinafter referred to as NO treatment) and ABA were assessed on metabolicprofiling, antioxidant enzymes activity and physiological parameters in leaves of waterstressed Malbec vines. Sprayings of NO and ABA partially closed stomata, soincreasing water potential and reducing vines growth. As well, NO and ABA increasedguaiacol peroxidase activity and levels of specific sugars and anthocyanins in leaves,whereas amino acids accumulation was reduced, in turn associated with less proteindegradation. Differential responses triggered by NO in stimulating ascorbate peroxidaseactivity and incrementing tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and terpenes thatstabilize membranes, suggest differential mechanisms for NO and ABA incounteracting water stress effects in leaves of grapevines.Conclusions: NO and ABA differentially regulate osmo-protective and antioxidativemechanisms related to water stress tolerance in grapevines.Significance of the Study: spray application of NO and ABA to whole plants had apromotive effect on leaf metabolic responses known to be associated with water stress tolerance mechanisms in grapevines, being a possible technological tool for improvingviticulture in grape growing regions affected by water scarcity due to climate change.