Comparison of soil-to-root transfer and translocation coefficients of trace elements in vines of Chardonnay and Muscat white grown in the same vineyard

•Translocation of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb had diverse patterns for Chardonnay and Muscat white grapevines.•Pb was highly mobile in the soil–root – aerial parts system for both researched vine varieties.•Cu had strong correlation between grape and soil concentrations and can be used as an anthropogenic indicator of the wine composition.•Essential trace elements (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) represented less significant variety-specific patterns in Vitis vinifera L. than toxic elements (Cd, Cr and Pb).

The soil-to-root transfer and translocation coefficients of essential and non-essential elements in different parts of Vitis vinifera L. depend on environmental and anthropogenic factors and can be variety-specific. Knowledge about uptake and translocation of trace elements by different varieties is necessary for prediction contamination of grapes and wine products and understanding tolerance of cultivars to the environment. The study focused on determination of transfer and translocation patterns of so-called essential (Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) and non-essential (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb) elements by vines of Chardonnay and Muscat white of the same age and grown at the similar environmental conditions in Inkerman vineyard, South Crimea in 2013. Samples of irrigation water, soil, fine and coarse roots, leaves and canes were taken in May and berries were harvested in August. The soil enrichment factor, soil-to-root transfer and translocation (roots, leaves and canes) coefficients were calculated based on the trace elements concentration gradients. The principle component analysis and the variables correlation were used for the data treatment. Results showed the contamination of vineyard soil by Pb, which was due to contaminated irrigation water. There was a little variation between Chardonnay and Muscat white in terms of essential trace elements transfer from soil to roots. Translocation patterns were significantly different for non-essential elements, cultivars and plant parts. Pb had the highest variability in transfer and translocation patterns between varieties. Bio-concentration factors varied between cultivars and the highest value was detected for Zn and Fe.