Responses of Potential Rootstock Hybrids (Vinifera × American) to Drought and Salt Stress

Abiotic stress factors such as drought, salinity, and high temperatures have been increasing their impact in recent years with global warming. As in all areas of agriculture, viticulture is also faced with these negative effects. When the 10-year data are analyzed, it is seen that there is an intense loss in production and vineyard areas in Turkey. In the face of this decrease in vineyard areas, it is inevitable to try to obtain high yields from the existing areas. The basis of these studies is the selection and breeding of rootstock varieties with high yield and resistance to both abiotic and biotic stress conditions. In this work, individuals resistant to drought and salinity stress among 100 ‘Karadimrit × 140 Ruggeri’ and ‘Boğazkere × 1103 Paulsen’ hybrids, which were obtained by crossbreeding in 2007–2008 and are potentially drought and salt tolerant, will be identified and registered as rootstocks. The study was carried out between 2018 and 2020 in order to identify those with potential. The results obtained according to the leaf water potential (LWP, Ψ) measurement data used to measure the stress occurring in the plant as a result of controlled drought and salt applications varied between −1.45 and −2.45 MegaPascal (MPa) in drought applications, −1.40 and −2.15 MPa in salt applications, and −1.45 and −2.30 MPa in polyethylene glycol (PEG) applications. As a result of the study initiated for rootstock breeding, it has been determined that 12 individuals out of 100 hybrids are more resistant to all stress conditions and are potential rootstocks.