Effect of water deficit and propagation techniques on solute accumulation of Actinidia deliciosa (cv. Hayward) vines

Two-year-old kiwifruit vines (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) obtained by micropropagation and from cuttings were used to investigate the effects of three days of water deficit on solute accumulation. The control vines, befo re (C-0) and after treatment (C-1), were characterized by the same water po tential value, irrespective of the propagation technique, while the water p otential decreased by 0.9 MPa in micropropagated vines and by 0.6 MPa in vi nes from cuttings due to water deficit (S-1). Neither vine showed osmotic adjustment following water deficit. Water defic it caused an increase in total free amino acids, total sugars (glucose + fr uctose + sucrose + raffinose) and inositol, irrespective of the propagation technique. In micropropagated vines water deficit provoked an increase in proline, valine and leucine, whereas in cutting vines also tyrosine and try ptophan increased.