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…

Yeast mannoprotein characterization and their effect on Oenococcus oeni and malolactic fermentation

Mannoproteins are released at the end of alcoholic fermentation due to yeast autolysis [1]. It has been described a positive effect of these molecules on lactic acid bacteria growth [2]. The main objective of this work was the characterization of different mannoproteins extracted from active dry yeast (ADY) and the assessment of their effect on Oenococcus oeni and malolactic fermentation (MLF).

Genetic identification of 200-year-old Serbian grapevine herbarium

Botanist Andreas Raphael Wolny collected a grapevine herbarium from 1812-1824 in Sremski Karlovci (wine region of Vojvodina, Serbia), which represents local cultivated grapevine diversity before the introduction of grape phylloxera in the region. The herbarium comprises over 100 samples organized into two subcollections based on berry colour (red and white varieties), totaling 47 different grape varieties. The objective of this study was to investigate the historical varietal assortment of Balkan and Pannonian winegrowing areas with long viticulture traditions.

Typicality of Rioja wines: identification of sensory profiles for the three subregions of DOCa Rioja

Within the DOCa Rioja three main production areas are differentiated: Rioja Alta (RA), Rioja Alavesa (RAv) and Rioja Oriental (RO). They are three diverse territories with particular characteristics that are claimed to give rise to differentiated profiles. The present work aims at evaluating the sensory diversity of young commercial red wines in these three subregions. Therefore 30 young red wines (mainly Tempranillo and vintage 2021), ten from each subregion, were sensory described following a non-verbal free sorting task and a verbal free comment task by 32 well-established Rioja winemakers.

Evaluation of phenology, agronomic and oenological quality in minority wine varieties in Madrid as a strategy for adaptation to climate change

The main phenological stages (budburst, flowering, veraison, and ripeness) and the fruit composition of 34 Spanish minority varieties were studied to determine their cultivation potential and help winegrowers adapt their production systems to climate change conditions. In total, 4 control cultivars, and 30 minority varieties from central Spain were studied during a period of 3 campaigns, in the ampelographic collection “El Encín”, in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. Agronomic and oenological characteristics such as yield, and total soluble solids concentration have been monitored.

Development and validation of a free solvent UHPLC/MS-MS method to analyse melatonin and its precursors in Spanish commercial wines  

Melatonin is a bioactive compound present in foods and beverages such as wines. During alcoholic fermentation, yeast transforms tryptophan into certain indole compounds, including melatonin. This paper aims to develop and validate a free solvent analytical method by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS-MS) to determine melatonin and its precursors (L-tryptophan, tryptamine, serotonin, tryptophol, N-acetylserotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and 3- indoleacetic) that appropriately prevent the matrix effect.