HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF RFID-MARKED GRAPEVINES

• Published in: Journal of plant pathology 2009-12, Vol.91 (4), p.S4.70-S4.71
• Main Authors: Luvisi, A, Panattoni, A, Colosimo, A, Rinaldelli, E, Pagano, M, Bandinelli, R, Gini, B, Triolo, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Vitaceae
• ISSN: 1125-4653

Grapevine plants marked by Radio frequency identification (RFID) system were monitored to determine whether the system interfered with the growth and hearth status of the vines. TAGs were inserted inside the rootstock pith in 2007, three cm below the grafting point, following two different procedures: (A) direct drilling of the pith from the upper end of the rootstock; (B) making a "U" cut laterally on the rootstock with a specially designed machine that involved tissues from bark to pith. After placing the microchip inside the pith, grafting was made. In 2008 and 2009, growth was monitored and histological observations were made on freshly cut trunk sections (20 mu m thick) in proximity of the microchip. Based on growth data, the vines subjected to procedure A did not show any modification in the tissues compared with the control. Indeed, the insertion method did not cause additional wounds to the rootstock as only a small portion of pith is removed to accommodate the microchip. Conversely, procedure B was more invasive due to the "U" wound, causing partial loss of functionality in terms of open vessels. Image analysis of transections revealed that the damaged area did not exceed 27% and 19% of the total vascular area in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The extent of histological damage was limited to the microchip position: no histological alteration was noted above and below the microchip, and no growth decrement was recorded in the marked plants, compared with control.