terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 New biotechnological approaches for a comprehensive characterization of AGL11 and its molecular mechanism underlying seedlessness trait in table grape

New biotechnological approaches for a comprehensive characterization of AGL11 and its molecular mechanism underlying seedlessness trait in table grape

Abstract

In table grapes seedlessness is a crucial breeding target, mainly results from stenospermocarpy, linked to the Thompson Seedless variety. Several studies investigated the genetic control of seedlessness identifying AGL11, a MADS-box transcription factor, as a crucial gene.

We performed a deep investigation of the whole AGL11 gene sequence in a collection of grapevine varieties revealing three different promoter-CDS combinations. By investigating the expression of the three AGL11 alleles and evaluating their ability to activate the promoter region, we show that AGL11 regulates its transcription in a specific promoter-CDS manner. By a multi-AGL11 co-expression analysis we identified a methyl jasmonate esterase, an indole-3-acetate beta-glucosyltransferase, and an isoflavone reductase as top AGL11 candidate targets. In vivo experiments further confirmed AGL11 role in regulating these genes, demonstrating its significant influence in seed development and thus in seedlessness trait.

The overall data allowed us to propose a novel regulatory mechanism correlating AGL11 haplotype assortment and seedlessness class, suggesting potential applications in grapevine breeding for seedlessness and fruit size optimization.

With the aim to validate in planta the proposed regulatory mechanism, we are working to stable transform ‘microvine’ plants for producing a truncated or inactivated AGL11 protein. We first demonstrated the ability of embryogenic calli, obtained from ‘microvine’ anthers collection and culture, to regenerate embryos capable of germinating and sprouting into a new plant. The use of ‘microvine’ as a model system offers promising outcomes for functional gene characterization, benefiting viticulture genetic improvement and seedless table grape cultivation.

Download the abstract

DOI:

Publication date: June 14, 2024

Issue: Open GPB 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Alessandra Amato1*, Maria Francesca Cardone2, Oscar Bellon1, Lucia Rosaria Forleo2, Margherita D’Amico2, Carlo Bergamini2, Sara Zenoni1

1 Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
2 Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Turi, Bari, Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

Table grape, Seedlessness, AGL11, Regulatory mechanism, Microvine

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Open GPB | Open GPB 2024

Citation

Related articles…

FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY IN MONITORING THE WINE PRODUCTION

The complexity of the wine matrix makes the monitoring of the winemaking process crucial. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) along with chemometrics is considered an effective analytical tool combining good accuracy, robustness, high sample throughput, and “green character”. Portable and non-portable FTIR devices are already used by the wine industry for routine analysis. However, the analytical calibrations need to be enriched, and some others are still waiting to be thoroughly developed.

Read More

Back to the roots: how an underutilised biotechnological tool can support research to improve grapevine resilience against biotic stressors in an unpredictable future

Hairy roots (HRs) are a symptom of a natural genetic modification by the soil-borne phytopathogen Rhizobium rhizogenes.

Read More

Accelerated circadian cycles of photoperiod favor photosynthetic efficiency and growth in grapevine

Climate change presents a challenge for agriculture worldwide. Yet, crop productivity is negatively impacted by abiotic hazards such as high temperatures and water deficit.

Read More

Proposal of a procedure for sensory characterisation of wines from different subareas of a same D.O.C. (V.Q.P.R.D.)

In the course of the present work, which is the first part of a study on the “characterization of Barbera dell’Oltrepo Pavese D.O.C.” 30 wines Barbera from 1993 vintage have been compared only regarding their sensory characteristics. An unstructured scale card, composed by 15 descriptors have been used.

Read More

Fertilization Lysimeters provide new insights into the needs and impacts of N nutrition on table grape performance and fruit yield and quality

Table grape production requires adequate nitrogen (N) supply to sustain vine performance and obtain high yields. However, excess agricultural N fertilization is a major source of groundwater contamination and air pollution. Therefore, there is a strong need for empirically based precision N fertilization schemes in vineyards, for optimizing grape yield and quality while minimizing their environmental impact.
Our aim was to unequivocally quantify table grape N requirements, elucidate the drivers of daily N uptake, and quantify the relationship between fertigation N levels and vine growth, fruit yield, composition, and quality. For this, forty ‘Early Sweet’ (early-maturing, white) and ‘Crimson seedless’ (late-maturing, red) vines were grown in 500L drainage-lysimeters for 2 fruiting seasons, while subjected to five continuous N fertigation treatments ranging from 10 to 200 ppm.

Read More