2nd Edition of Agriculture, Forestry, and Horticulture World Conference 2026

Abstract

Cold stress is a major abiotic factor limiting grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) growth and productivity. This study investigated the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, on cold tolerance in grapevine seedlings. An in vitro factorial experiment was conducted using two SNP concentrations (0 and 20 μM) and three cold exposure durations (0, 2, and 4 weeks). Biochemical traits, including proline content, total protein, and antioxidant capacity, along with the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were evaluated. Factorial analysis of variance revealed significant effects of cold duration, SNP application, and their interaction on most measured traits. Correlation analysis demonstrated positive associations among key metabolites and enzyme activities, indicating coordinated defense responses under cold stress. Integrated biochemical, enzymatic, and in silico structural analyses showed that SNP treatment enhanced redox homeostasis and promoted metabolic adjustment. Overall, SNP alleviated oxidative damage and improved cold tolerance in grapevine seedlings, primarily through proline accumulation and activation of antioxidant enzymes. These findings highlight the potential of nitric oxide donors as effective regulators of cold stress responses and support their application for improving cold resilience in grapevine and related horticultural species.
Keywords: Cold stress, Abiotic Stress Resilience, Grapevine, Heritability, Tukey’s test.