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BACKGROUND: Grafting is widely used in horticulture and rootstocks are known to modify scion growth and adaptation to soil conditions. However, the role of scion genotype in regulating rootstock development and functioning has remained largely unexplored. In this study, reciprocal grafts of two grapevine genotypes were produced as well as the corresponding homo-graft controls. These plants were subjected to a low phosphate (LP) treatment and transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing was done on root samples collected 27 h after the onset of the LP treatment. RESULTS: A set of transcripts responsive to the LP treatment in all scion/rootstock combinations was identified. Gene expression patterns associated with genetic variation in response to LP were identified by comparing the response of the two homo-grafts. In addition, the scion was shown to modify root transcriptome responses to LP in a rootstock dependent manner. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified modules of correlated genes; the analysis of the association of these modules with the phosphate treatment, and the scion and rootstock genotype identified potential hub genes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into the response of grafted grapevine to phosphate supply and identifies potential shoot-to-root signals that could vary between different grapevine genotypes.

Background: The economic importance of grapevine has driven significant efforts in genomics to accelerate the exploitation of Vitis resources for development of new cultivars. However, although a large number of clonally propagated accessions are maintained in grape germplasm collections worldwide, their use for crop improvement is limited by the scarcity of information on genetic diversity, population structure and proper phenotypic assessment. The identification of representative and manageable subset of accessions would facilitate access to the diversity available in large collections. A genome-wide germplasm characterization using molecular markers can offer reliable tools for adjusting the quality and representativeness of such core samples. Results: We investigated patterns of molecular diversity at 22 common microsatellite loci and 384 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2273 accessions of domesticated grapevine V. vinifera ssp. sativa, its wild relative V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris, interspecific hybrid cultivars and rootstocks. Despite the large number of putative duplicates and extensive clonal relationships among the accessions, we observed high level of genetic variation. In the total germplasm collection the average genetic diversity, as quantified by the expected heterozygosity, was higher for SSR loci (0.81) than for SNPs (0.34). The analysis of the genetic structure in the grape germplasm collection revealed several levels of stratification. The primary division was between accessions of V. vinifera and non-vinifera, followed by the distinction between wild and domesticated grapevine. Intra-specific subgroups were detected within cultivated grapevine representing different eco-geographic groups. The comparison of a phenological core collection and genetic core collections showed that the latter retained more genetic diversity, while maintaining a similar phenotypic variability. Conclusions: The comprehensive molecular characterization of our grape germplasm collection contributes to the knowledge about levels and distribution of genetic diversity in the existing resources of Vitis and provides insights into genetic subdivision within the European germplasm. Genotypic and phenotypic information compared in this study may efficiently guide further exploration of this diversity for facilitating its practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]