Hormonal and associated metabolic changes in susceptible harvest-ripe grapes under asymptomatic and symptomatic Esca disease
Abstract
Esca complex is a disease affecting grapevine trunks, characterized by the colonization of the wood by xylem-residing fungi (Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium minimum and Fomitiporia mediterranea), and posing significant risks to vineyard longevity since no efficient treatment is available. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms beyond symptomatic manifestations like interveinal chlorosis and leaf necrosis remain unclear. Preliminary findings indicated a more pronounced metabolic reprogramming in fruits compared to vegetative organs and a putative impact on wine quality by using fruits from symptomatic grapevines. Here, we conducted metabolic profiling and untargeted/ targeted metabolomics to gather more insights into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms responsible for the onset of symptoms. Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC-qTOF-MS/MS), Gas Chromatograph-Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (GC-qTOF-MS/MS), and Liquid Cromatography (LC-MS/MS) enabled the identification of putative markers of symptomatology regarding hormonal regulation, primary and secondary metabolisms. Abscisic acid, jasmonates, and specific amino acids and sugars decrease in harvest-stage fruits from symptomatic grapevines, in contrast with the accumulation of a wide variety of phenylpropanoids (e.g., procyanidin B1, caftaric acid, resveratrol) among others. Secondary metabolism was more strongly remodelled indicating a partitioning of carbon allocated to defence-related metabolism. RNA extraction and sequencing are being conducted to integrate these metabolic results with molecular data. This study may contribute to developing a model regarding the development of Esca symptoms in an attempt to mitigate the worldwide impact of this complex disease.
DOI:
Issue: Open GPB 2024
Type: Article
Authors
1 BioISI – Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, ISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
3 Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
4 Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
5 LEAF – Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
6 Departamento de Estatística e Investigação Operacional e Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
7 DNA & RNA Sensing Lab, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Environment, Vila Real, Portugal
8 Research Group Plant Defense Physiology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany