title: Rootstocks: Diversity, Domestication, and Impacts on Shoot Phenotypes.
abstract: Grafting is an ancient agricultural practice that joins the root system (rootstock) of one plant to the shoot (scion) of another. It is most commonly employed in woody perennial crops to indirectly manipulate scion phenotype. While recent research has focused on scions, here we investigate rootstocks, the lesser-known half of the perennial crop equation. We review natural grafting, grafting in agriculture, rootstock diversity and domestication, and developing areas of rootstock research, including molecular interactions and rootstock microbiomes. With growing interest in perennial crops as valuable components of sustainable agriculture, rootstocks provide one mechanism by which to improve and expand woody perennial cultivation in a range of environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Department of Biological Sciences, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199-2156, USA; Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Kushlan Tropical Science Institute, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156-4233, USA.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Warschefsky
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University, Department of Biology, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103-2010, USA; Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110-2226, USA.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132-2918, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132-2918, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chitwood
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service: Grape Genetics Research Unit, 630 West North Street, Geneva, NY 14456-1371, USA.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Londo
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Department of Biological Sciences, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199-2156, USA; Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Kushlan Tropical Science Institute, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156-4233, USA; Florida International University, International Center for Tropical Botany, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199-2156, USA.
authors.forename: Eric J B
authors.initials: EJB
authors.lastname: von Wettberg
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University, Department of Biology, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103-2010, USA; Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110-2226, USA. Electronic address: amille75@slu.edu.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000502:physiology; D000071278:Domestication; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: domestication; grafting; rootstock; woody perennial crops