Gibberellins and abscisic acid promote carbon allocation in roots and berries of grapevines

D MORENO; F BERLI; P PICCOLI; R BOTTINI

JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION

SPRINGER

Año: 2011 vol. 30 p. 220 - 228

0721-7595

Carbon allocation within grapevines may affect berries growth and development. The plant hormones gibberellins (GAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) control various processes across the plant life and both have been involved in assimilate production and transport in different species. Hence, this work examined the distribution of sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose) and starch in grapevines at veraison after foliar applications of GA3, ABA and an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis, paclobutrazol (PBZ). The results demonstrated that GA3 increased total grapevine mass, and carbon allocation was driven towards the whole grapevine (as structural and soluble carbohydrates). Both GA3 and ABA increased monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) levels in berries (up to 10-fold) and roots (up to three-fold). However, GA3 increased the net carbon fixation while ABA did not. PBZ diminished most growth parameters except grapevine’s mass, and allocated more carbohydrates in roots (up to three-fold more sucrose and starch). Such results indicate that GAs as growth promoters are involved in stimulation of net carbon fixation and transport while ABA as stress signal only enhances sugar transport; notwithstanding the two hormones promoted carbon allocation towards organs involved in grapevine’s survival, roots and berries.