Enhancing plant defense: carbon dots for efficient spray-induced gene silencing 

Oxidation in wine is mostly related to the Michael addition of nucleophiles on two quinones formed from the oxidation of ortho-diphenols. In wine this mechanism is responsible for the increase of the yellow hue and aroma loss. Glutathione exerts its antioxidant activity throughout its competitive addition onto quinones, but many other compounds can have the same behavior: sulfanyl
compounds, amino acids, etc. Addition of yeast derivates during the winemaking process can increase the level of those nucleophilic compounds and then confer to the wine a higher resistance

Agiorgitiko (Vitis vinifera L. cv.) is the most widely cultivated indigenous red grape variety in Greece, known for the production of Protected Designation of Origin Nemea wines.

Cognac is an outstanding french wine spirit appreciated around the world and produced exclusively in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and more precisely in the Cognac area. According to AOC regulations (Appellation D’origine Controlée), the spirit required at least 2 years of continuous ageing in oak barrels to be granted the title of Cognac. The oak wood will import color, structure and organoleptic complexity. The different steps during barrel-making process, such as seasoning and toasting, influence the above quality attributes in both wines and spirits.

The interaction between wine and landscapes is of an unsuspected richness. On the one side, the vineyards form part of the landscapes which they model. On the other side, the wines are related in their perception to the image of a region, a landscape and are at the origin of a cultural richness.

Throughout centuries of anthropocentric breeding, plants have been selectively bred to enhance their quality traits and yield, often overlooking the importance of neglected attributes, like those involved in the interactions with beneficial microorganisms. This phenomenon led to an alteration in the distribution of photosynthetic products, shifting from defence mechanisms to growth, commonly described as ‘domestication syndrome’. Addressing the losses stemming from this condition is imperative just as unravelling the concealed communication between grapevines and beneficial microorganisms.