Root hydraulic conductivity and oepip2.1 aquaporin as possible physiological and molecular markers of vegetative growth potential in olive (Olea europaea L.)

Expression of PIP1 and PIP2 aquaporins is enhanced in olive dwarf genotypes and is related to root and leaf hydraulic conductance

The expression of OePIP1.1 and OePIP2.1 aquaporins in root, stem and leaf was higher in Olea europaea L. (olive) plants carrying a dwarfing (D) clone as rootstock, than in plants carrying a vigorous (M) clone as rootstock. The highest difference of expression between plants with D and M rootstocks was detected in the root and for the PIP2 gene, the transcripts of which show a high water channel activity in oocytes.  Compared with plants with M rootstock, plants with D rootstock showed reduced root and canopy biomass and reduced hydraulic conductance of the bulk root system (Kroot). Hydraulic conductance of D roots was higher than that of M roots when Kroot was scaled by root DW, in agreemen…