Activation of retrotransposition in grapevine

The Valpolicella area (Veneto Region, Italy) is famous for its high quality wines: Amarone and Recioto, both obtained from partial post-harvest dehydrated red grapes. The main cultivars used for these wines are Corvina and Corvinone. In this Region hundreds of years ago a particular training system (Pergola, cordon/cane with horizontal shoot-positioning) was developed. In the last 20 years the Guyot have been introduced in the area; now Pergola and Guyot are equally widespread in the Valpolicella area. In two different environmental conditions (hill and floodplain) two vineyards, one for each type of training system, were studied along two years (2011-2012).

The phenolic profiles of little known red grape cultivars, namely Garnacho, Moribel and Tinto Fragoso, which are autochthonous from the Spanish region of La Mancha (ca. 600,000 ha of vineyards) have been studied over the consecutive seasons of years 2013 and 2014. The study was separately performed over the skins, the pulp and the seeds, and comprised the following phenolic types: anthocyanins, flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCADs), total proanthocyanidins (PAs) and their structural features. The selected grape cultivars belong to the Vine Germplasm Bank created in this region in order to preserve the great diversity of genotypes grown in La Mancha.

Diverse ripening disorders affect grapevine resulting in high economic losses worldwide. The common obvious symptom is shriveling berries, however the shriveling pattern and the consequences for berry quality traits are distinct in each disorder. Among them, the disorder berry shrivel is characterized by a reduced sugar accumulation short after the onset of berry ripening leaving the clusters unsuitable for wine processing. Although our knowledge on BS increased recently, potential internal or external triggers contributing to the induction of BS are yet to be explored.

Non-Saccharomyces starter cultures became increasingly popular over the years because of their potential to produce more distinctive and unique wines. The major benefit of the use of Lachancea thermotolerans as a fermentation starter is its ability to produce relevant amounts of lactic acid and reduce alcoholic strength, making it valuable for mitigating negative impacts of climate change on grapes and wine quality. Besides, like any other non-Saccharomyces yeast, L. thermotolerans can significantly affect a whole range of other physico-chemical wine parameters.

La maturité optimale est définie en fonction du style de vin désiré, qui est fonction du marché. Le sol et le climat ont un effet sur la typicité des vins. Le niveau qualitatif des raisins et des vins, et le potentiel pour obtenir différents styles de vin est déterminé par l’association des caractéristiques naturel du terroir et les technologies mises en