Effect of rootstock on phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties in berries of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. 'Red Alexandria'

- Significant differences and a high variability among 15 rootstocks were observed in phenolic compounds and antioxidant profiles.
- 'Saltcreek' and 'Macadams' revealed to confer higher Peonidin-3-O-glucoside to 'Red Alexandria'.
- 'Rupestris du Lot' produced berries with higher reducing sugar, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities for 'Red Alexandria'.
- Considering quality and nutrition, 'Rupestris du Lot' and 'Saltcreek' could be suggested for Vitis vinifera under alike ecological conditions.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of rootstocks on phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities in berries of 'Red Alexandria' (Vitis vinifera L.). There were significant differences among 15 rootstocks with respect to most of the parameters studied. Berries from 'Saltcreek' and 'Rupestris du Lot' contained the highest concentrations of glucose and fructose (85.00 and 99.55 mg g−1FW, and 83.48 and 99.69 mg g−1FW, respectively), while berries from '420A' contained the lowest concentrations of sugars (62.49 and 74.23 mg g−1FW). Rootstock had a significant influence on total phenolics, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins and antioxidant profiles. In particular, anthocyanins in the peels were affected to more by the rootstock than on other secondary metabolites. Berry peels of 'Saltcreek' (4.13 mg g−1) or 'Macadams' (4.07 mg g−1) and '420A' (0.23 mg g−1) showed an 18-fold difference in anthocyanins. On the base of Principal Component Analysis, the results showed that the 'Rupestris du Lot' rootstock produced berries with higher reducing sugar, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities. In addition, a significant and positive correlation (P < 0.01) was observed among total phenolics, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, and antioxidant properties. Thus, considering berries quality and nutrition, 'Rupestris du Lot' and 'Saltcreek' rootstock could be suggested for Vitis vinifera L. under alike ecological conditions in Southern China.