terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Identification of loci associated with specialised metabolites in Vitis vinifera

Identification of loci associated with specialised metabolites in Vitis vinifera

Abstract

Secondary (or specialised) metabolites such as terpenes and phenolic compounds are produced by plants for various roles which include defence against pathogens and herbivores, protection against abiotic stress, and plant signalling. Additionally, these metabolites influence grapevine quality traits such as colour, aroma, taste, and nutritional value. However, the biosynthesis of these metabolites is often complex and controlled by multiple genes which in grapevine are predominantly uncharacterised. This study therefore aimed to identify novel loci associated with grapevine volatile organic and phenolic compounds. Chemical analysis of these compound classes was performed via GC-MS and UPLC analysis in a grapevine mapping population, and the quantified metabolites used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis.  Several significant QTLs associated with terpenes and phenolic compounds were identified, and the underlying genomic regions were investigated. For phenolic compounds, a novel locus associated with caftaric acid biosynthesis was identified, and a hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (VvHCT) was investigated as a candidate gene. Several terpene synthases (VvTPSs) co-localised with QTLs associated with monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Notably, loci on chromosomes 12 and 13 were shown to be associated with geraniol and cyclic monoterpene accumulation, respectively. The locus on chromosome 12 was shown to contain a geraniol synthase gene (VvGer), while the locus on chromosome 13 contained an a-terpineol synthase gene (VvTer). Further molecular and genomic investigation of VvGer and VvTer found that these genes appear in tandemly duplicated clusters, with high levels of hemizygosity which was further supported by genomic data from recently published diploid grapevine genomes. Interestingly, copy number analysis demonstrated that VvTer gene copy number correlated with both VvTerexpression and the accumulation of cyclic monoterpenes, highlighting the impact of VvTPS gene duplication and copy number variation on terpene accumulation in grapevine.

DOI:

Publication date: October 3, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Robin Bosman*1 and Justin Graham Lashbrooke2

1South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2 Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Contact the author*

Keywords

terpenes, TPS, grapevine, gene copy number, genomics, QTL, phenolics

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Biodiversity and biocontrol ability of Trichoderma natural populations in soil vineyards from Castilla y León region (Spain)

Trichoderma is a microorganism present in many agricultural soils and some of its species could be used as natural biological control agents. In this work, the presence of natural populations of Trichoderma was estimated in soil vineyard and its biocontrol capacity against Phaeoacremonium minimum, one of the main agent causals of grapevine trunk diseases instead of using pesticides. Moreover, physicochemical variables in soil such as pH, organic matter and nutrients were evaluated to determine a possible correlation to natural populations of Trichoderma.

Read More

A phylogenomic study reveals the major dissemination routes of ‘Tempranillo Tinto’ in the Iberian Peninsula

‘Tempranillo Tinto’ is a black-berried Iberian cultivar that originated from a hybridization between cvs. ‘Benedicto’ and ‘Albillo Mayor’ [1]. Today, it is the third most widely grown wine grape cultivar worldwide with more than 200,000 hectares of vineyards mostly distributed along the Iberian Peninsula, where it is also known as ‘Cencibel’, ‘Tinta de Toro’, ‘Tinta Roriz’, and ‘Aragonez’, among other synonyms. Here, we quantified the intra-varietal genomic diversity in this cultivar through the study of 35 clones or ancient vines from seven different Iberian wine-making regions. A comparative analysis after Illumina whole-genome sequencing revealed the presence of 1,120 clonal single nucleotide variants (SNVs).

Read More

New food trend ahead? Highlighting the nutritional benefits of grapevine leaves

The wine industry produces an enormous amount of waste every year. A wider inclusion of disregarded by-products in the human diet or its use as a source of bioactive compounds is a good strategy for reducing waste. It will not only introduce an added value to a waste product but also come upon the European Union and United Nations’ demands towards more sustainable agricultural approaches and circular economy.

Read More

Indicators of Sustainable Vineyard Soil Management: Metrics for Assessing Environmental Impacts

The vital role of soils in supporting life on our planet cannot be overstated. Soils provide numerous ecosystem services and functions, including biomass production, carbon sequestration, physical support, biological habitat, and genetic reserve, among others. Understanding the characteristics and sensitivity of soils in a specific terroir, along with effective soil management practices, is crucial for the sustainable management of natural resources.

Read More

Toasting and grain effect on Tempranillo red wine aged in Quercus petraea barrels

The barrel-making process is widely recognized as a crucial practice that affects the composition of barrel-aged wine. After the drying process, the staves are considered ready for barrel assembly, which includes the processes of bending and toasting the barrel structure. Toasting is considered one of the most critical stages in determining the physical and chemical composition of the staves, which can influence the chemical and sensory composition of the wine aged in barrels made from them [1].

Read More