Grafting is the most used propagation method in viticulture and is the unique control strategy against Phylloxera. Nevertheless, its practice remains limited mainly due to inconsistent graft success and difficulties in predicting graft compatibility responses of proposed scion–rootstock combinations, slowing down the selection of elite rootstocks. Aiming to identify optimal phenotypic parameters related to graft (in)compatibility, we used four clones of two grapevine cultivars that show different compatibility behavior when grafted onto the same rootstock. Several physiological parameters, internal anatomy of the graft union, chlorophyll fluorescence, and pigment contents of homo- and heterografts were monitored in a nursery-grafting context. The measurements highlighted enhanced performance of the heterografts due to rooting difficulties of Vitis vinifera homografts. This suggests that in viticulture, homografts should only be used as compatibility controls regarding qualitative attributes. By observing the internal anatomy of the union, we found that grapevines might require longer times for graft healing than anticipated. While Affinity Coefficients were not informative to assess incompatibility, leaf chlorophyll concentration analysis proved to be a more sensitive indicator of stress than the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence. Overall, we conclude that graft take correlated best with callus formation at the graft junction three weeks after grafting.

The most dangerous pathogen affecting the production of chestnuts is Phytophthora cinnamomi a hemibiotrophic that causes root rot, also known as ink disease. Little information has been acquired in chestnut on the molecular defence strategies against this pathogen. The expression of eight candidate genes potentially involved in the defense to P. cinnamomi was quantified by digital PCR in Castanea genotypes showing different susceptibility to the pathogen. Seven of the eight candidate genes displayed differentially expressed levels depending on genotype and time-point after inoculation. Cast_Gnk2-like revealed to be the most expressed gene across all experiments and the one that best discriminates between susceptible and resistant genotypes. Our data suggest that the pre-formed defenses are crucial for the resistance of C. crenata to P. cinnamomi. A lower and delayed expression of the eight studied genes was found in the susceptible Castanea sativa, which may be related with the establishment and spread of the disease in this species. A working model integrating the obtained results is presented.

In viticulture, grafting is used to propagate Phylloxera-susceptible European grapevines, thereby using resistant American rootstocks. Although scion–rootstock reciprocal signaling is essential for the formation of a proper vascular union and for coordinated growth, our knowledge of graft partner interactions is very limited. In order to elucidate the scale and the content of scion–rootstock metabolic interactions, we profiled the metabolome of eleven graft combination in leaves, stems, and phloem exudate from both above and below the graft union 5–6 months after grafting. We compared the metabolome of scions vs. rootstocks of homografts vs. heterografts and investigated the reciprocal effect of the rootstock on the scion metabolome. This approach revealed that (1) grafting has a minor impact on the metabolome of grafted grapevines when tissues and genotypes were compared, (2) heterografting affects rootstocks more than scions, (3) the presence of a heterologous grafting partner increases defense-related compounds in both scion and rootstocks in shorter and longer distances from the graft, and (4) leaves were revealed as the best tissue to search for grafting-related metabolic markers. These results will provide a valuable metabolomics resource for scion–rootstock interaction studies and will facilitate future efforts on the identification of metabolic markers for important agronomic traits in grafted grapevines.

There is, at the present time, a great demand for chestnut rootstocks with improved resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands in the nurseries. New genotypes are emerging from European chestnut breeding programs and the production of thriving plants to restore old orchards with low yields due to a high incidence of diseases, namely root rot, is necessary. Micropropagation is a useful technique for clonal propagation. Nevertheless, in vitro culture propagation is genotype-dependent. Consequently, the existing protocols may demonstrate poor reproducibility and low efficacy. Thus, the need to contribute to the development of new micropropagation protocols suitable for large production of emerging genotypes. As a contribution to fill this gap, a three-step protocol was developed by using new combinations of Murashige & Skoog, Woody Plant, and adapted modified Melin-Norkrans media in different stages of the propagation process. About 90% of shoots were rooted, and after three months of acclimatization, 85% of these plants survived and were capable of continuous growth in the field. Currently, this protocol is being used in the production of several hybrid genotypes (with improved resistance to P. cinnamomi), selected from our ongoing breeding program and also in Castanea sativa Mill. and Castanea crenata Siebold and Zucc. species.