Evaluation of physiological and morphological responses of grape rootstocks under conditions of soil moisture stress

Seven grape rootstock cultivars were subjected to moisture stress to study the changes in their physiological and morphological responses such as relative water content (RWC), water use efficiency (WUE), proline content and root to shoot length ratio (RSLR). Significant difference was observed for most of the parameters under moisture stress conditions. Rootstocks 110 R, 1103 P, 99 R and Dog Ridge recorded comparatively more RSLR, WUE and proline content than the other rootstocks. Least values for all the observed parameters were recorded in SO4 and Vitis longii rootstocks. Under semiarid tropical climate of India, rootstocks 110 R, 1103 P and 99 R could be better drought tolerant rootstocks. Genetic variability was observed among grape rootstocks for most of the studied parameters.