Genetic dissection of grafting traits reveals regulators of graft union formation in grapevine
- 1Universite de Bordeaux
Abstract
Understanding how grafts form has fascinated scientists for over a century, and numerous transcription regulators involved in wound healing, callus formation, and grafting have been identified in model plants. However, the genetic architecture underlying grafting traits remains poorly characterized. To address this gap, we aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grafting success rates and grafting-related traits (including callus formation, mechanical strength of the graft union, and post-grafting growth) in a grapevine rootstock mapping population, Vitis berlandieri x V. rupestris. Although no QTLs were identified for grafting success rate, QTLs were identified for component traits revealing a genetic architecture that would have remained hidden when considering grafting success as a single composite phenotype. By integrating QTL and transcriptome data, we identified regulators potentially mediating grafting-related traits. We then showed that one transcription factor that regulates callus formation and grafting in Arabidopsis potentially has a similar role in grapevine by silencing with exogenous double-stranded RNAs and that exogenous application of methyl jasmonate increases callus development at the graft interface. Candidate transcriptional regulators located within QTLs and evidence from gene silencing and hormone treatments suggest the conservation of regulatory mechanisms underlying wound-induced callus formation across plant species.
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BibTeX
@misc{camboue2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic dissection of grafting traits reveals regulators of graft union formation in grapevine}},
author = {M. Camboue and M. Morel and E. Zehraoui and M. Lafargue and C. Hevin and N. Hocquard and J.-P. Tandonnet and N. Ollat and E. Marguerit and S. J. Cookson},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.06.757043},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.757043v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Genetic dissection of grafting traits reveals regulators of graft union formation in grapevine
AU - M. Camboue
AU - M. Morel
AU - E. Zehraoui
AU - M. Lafargue
AU - C. Hevin
AU - N. Hocquard
AU - J.-P. Tandonnet
AU - N. Ollat
AU - E. Marguerit
AU - S. J. Cookson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.06.757043
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.757043v1
AB - Understanding how grafts form has fascinated scientists for over a century, and numerous transcription regulators involved in wound healing, callus formation, and grafting have been identified in model plants. However, the genetic architecture underlying grafting traits remains poorly characterized. To address this gap, we aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grafting success rates and grafting-related traits (including callus formation, mechanical strength of the graft union, and post-grafting growth) in a grapevine rootstock mapping population, Vitis berlandieri x V. rupestris. Although no QTLs were identified for grafting success rate, QTLs were identified for component traits revealing a genetic architecture that would have remained hidden when considering grafting success as a single composite phenotype. By integrating QTL and transcriptome data, we identified regulators potentially mediating grafting-related traits. We then showed that one transcription factor that regulates callus formation and grafting in Arabidopsis potentially has a similar role in grapevine by silencing with exogenous double-stranded RNAs and that exogenous application of methyl jasmonate increases callus development at the graft interface. Candidate transcriptional regulators located within QTLs and evidence from gene silencing and hormone treatments suggest the conservation of regulatory mechanisms underlying wound-induced callus formation across plant species.
ER -