terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Genetic and hormonal regulation of grape berry cuticle formation

Genetic and hormonal regulation of grape berry cuticle formation

Abstract

The plant surface typically comprises of various epidermal cell types which synthesise and deposit a protective waxy layer known as the cuticle. The cuticle is a significant contributor to important crop traits related to drought tolerance, biotic stress, postharvest fruit quality as well as providing structural support. In this work we have investigated grape berry cuticle formation in the context of the accumulation of anti-fungal specialised metabolites and the ability of the cuticle to structurally cope with the rapid expansion of ripening berries. Metabolic QTL analysis was performed in a grapevine cross population, using chemical profiling data collected via GC-MS analysis for cuticular waxes. QTLs were identified for individual as well as classes of waxes, and a significant QTL associated with triterpenoid formation further characterised through the implementation of gene co-expression analysis. In vivo characterisation of a candidate triterpene synthase gene confirmed its role as a key gene for grapevine triterpene biosynthesis. Additionally, the hormonal regulation of berry cuticle formation was studied via chemical analysis of berry cuticles after application of various phytohormones. Application of cytokinin modulated the accumulation of berry surface waxes, leading to changes in the tensile properties of the berry skins, and a subsequent reduction in fruit cracking. These results highlighted the strong genetic association with cuticle formation and properties, but also the ability for growers to modulate this important physiological trait, and will potentially allow for optimised crop improvement strategies in the future.

DOI:

Publication date: June 13, 2024

Issue: Open GPB 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Robin Bosman1, Jessica Vervalle2 and Justin Lashbrooke2*

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

Contact the author*

Keywords

Cuticle, Fruit surface, Metabolic regulation, Triterpenoids, cracking

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Open GPB | Open GPB 2024

Citation

Related articles…

Pure wine vs natural wine

S’il n’existe pas de réglementation officielle, la démarche des vins naturels prône un retour aux pratiques dites ancestrales préconisant notamment un mode d’élaboration des vins utilisant le moins d’intrants possible. Le seul autorisé reste l’anhydride sulfureux (SO2) à des doses quatre à cinq fois moins importantes que pour les vins dits conventionnels. Ce désir de renouer avec

Digitising the vineyard: developing new technologies for viticulture in Australia 

New and developing technologies, that provide sensors and the software systems for using and interpreting them, are becoming pervasive through our lives and society. From smart phones to cars to farm machinery, all contain a range of sensors that are monitored automatically with intelligent software, providing us with the information we need, when we need it. This technological revolution has the potential to monitor all aspects of vineyard activity, assisting growers to make the management choices they need to achieve the outcomes they want. For example, a future vineyard may possess automated imaging that generates a three dimensional model of the vine canopy, highlighting differences from the desired structure and how to use canopy management to improve fruit composition, or generates maps with yield estimates and measurements of berry composition throughout the growing season.

Reviewing the geometry of terraces in the Douro region towards sustainable viticulture

The Douro demarcated region constitutes just over 50% of the area of mountain vineyard in the world, i.e., vineyards with slope gradients of 30% or above. Among the different (terraced) vineyard layouts, the formerly preferred wider terraces supporting two rows of vines and the currently advocated narrower single vine row, dominate the vineyards’ planting layout. The slope of these terraces, in other words, the supporting earth ramp, is a key element in these vineyards’ construction.

Streamlining rootstock selection: new indices for efficiency and stability in viticulture

Grapevine rootstocks play a pivotal role in influencing scion vigor, yield, and fruit quality, making their selection critical for sustainable vineyard management.

Untargeted LC-HRMS analysis to discover new taste-active compounds in spirits.

​For several years, the chemistry of taste has aroused high interest both from academics and industrials. Plant kingdom is a rich and reliable source of new taste-active compounds. Many sweet, bitter or sour molecules have been identified in various plants [1]. They belong to diverse chemical families and their sensory properties are strongly affected by slight structural modifications. As a consequence, the investigation of natural taste-active products in a given matrix appears as a major challenge for chemists. Such studies are particularly relevant in oenology since they allow a better understanding of wine and spirit taste.