Date of Presentation
7-29-2026 3:00 PM
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Dr. Stephen Bentivenga
Poster Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate root symbionts that extend host nutrient uptake in exchange for photosynthate. Nearly all commercial wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) are grafted onto American rootstocks selected for phylloxera resistance, drought tolerance, and vigor, meaning the root system interfacing with soil fungi is genetically distinct from the fruiting scion. Whether root system origin shapes AMF association remains poorly resolved, particularly in sandy, low-fertility soils. We compared AMF colonization and spore communities across four rootstock–scion combinations (Cabernet Franc and Merlot scions, own-rooted and riparian rootstock) at William Heritage® Winery in Mullica Hill, NJ. Fine roots were cleared, stained, and scored by the gridline-intersect method; spores were extracted from soil by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and identified to morphotype. Neither rootstock nor scion affected root colonization, and no interaction was detected (two-way ANOVA, all p > 0.20), with mean colonization near 30% across all combinations. Preliminary spore counts showed glomoid and acaulosporoid morphotypes dominating every combination. These results suggest that under these site conditions, grafting does not measurably alter AMF colonization intensity or coarse spore community composition. Expanded seasonal sampling paired with ITS/18S amplicon sequencing and multivariate ordination will test whether finer-scale community differences track colonization, leaf phosphorus, vine vigor, or soil nutrients.
Student Keywords
Effects of scion and rootsscion and rootstock, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, spore communities, Vitis vinifera
Disciplines
Biology
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Effects of scion and rootstock on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and spore communities in Vitis vinifera
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate root symbionts that extend host nutrient uptake in exchange for photosynthate. Nearly all commercial wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) are grafted onto American rootstocks selected for phylloxera resistance, drought tolerance, and vigor, meaning the root system interfacing with soil fungi is genetically distinct from the fruiting scion. Whether root system origin shapes AMF association remains poorly resolved, particularly in sandy, low-fertility soils. We compared AMF colonization and spore communities across four rootstock–scion combinations (Cabernet Franc and Merlot scions, own-rooted and riparian rootstock) at William Heritage® Winery in Mullica Hill, NJ. Fine roots were cleared, stained, and scored by the gridline-intersect method; spores were extracted from soil by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and identified to morphotype. Neither rootstock nor scion affected root colonization, and no interaction was detected (two-way ANOVA, all p > 0.20), with mean colonization near 30% across all combinations. Preliminary spore counts showed glomoid and acaulosporoid morphotypes dominating every combination. These results suggest that under these site conditions, grafting does not measurably alter AMF colonization intensity or coarse spore community composition. Expanded seasonal sampling paired with ITS/18S amplicon sequencing and multivariate ordination will test whether finer-scale community differences track colonization, leaf phosphorus, vine vigor, or soil nutrients.