terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 VviSOC1a and VviAG1 act antagonistically in the regulation of flower formation

VviSOC1a and VviAG1 act antagonistically in the regulation of flower formation

Abstract

The SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1) is a key floral activator that coordinates external and internal stimuli to ensure timely flowering. During early stages of flower formation, SOC1 represses floral organ identity genes such as AGAMOUS (AG) to prevent premature organ differentiation. In addition to floral organ specification, AG has been shown to regulate fleshy fruit expansion and ripening and, as such, is an important contributor to fruit quality traits. Currently, little is known about the function and gene regulatory network of the grapevine homologs VviSOC1a and VviAG1. As such, the aim of this study was to functionally characterise both genes by overexpressing them in tomato and performing phenotypic and gene expression studies. A dual luciferase (DL) assay involving putative target gene promoters was also conducted. Overexpression of VviSOC1a led to the development of leaf-like sepals, petals with increased chlorophyll content and plant sterility phenotypes. VviAG1-OE lines displayed hastened floral initiation, stamenoid petals, dwarfed fruit, as well as forming fleshy fruit sepals which gave the appearance of ripened pericarp tissue. The observed floral phenotypes were, in part, supported by the modulation of genes required for floral organ specification in tomato. VviSOC1a and VviAG1 displayed opposite expression trends, while also repressing each other’s expression in the DL assay. Collectively, the findings of this study supported a role for VviSOC1a in regulating floral organ specification, through the repression of the stamen and carpel identity gene VviAG1. An additional function for VviAG1 in berry development and ripening is also suggested.

DOI:

Publication date: June 13, 2024

Issue: Open GPB 2024

Type: Poster

Authors

Jenna Jolliffe1,2, Claudio Moser2, Stefania Pilati2 and Justin Lashbrooke3*

1South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
2Research and Innovation Centre, Edmund Mach Foundation, San Michele all’Adige, 38098, Italy
3Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

Contact the author*

Keywords

SOC1, AG1, Flower, transcription factor, development

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Open GPB | Open GPB 2024

Citation

Related articles…

Vineyard innovative tools based on the integration of earth observation services and in-field sensors (VitiGEOSS project)

Climate change is having an unprecedented impact on the wine industry, which is one of the major agricultural sectors around the world. Global warming, combined with the variation in rainfall patterns and the increase in frequency of extreme weather events, is significantly influencing vine physiology and exposing, more frequently, plants to severe biotic and abiotic stresses. This represents a challenge for viticulturists who need to take complex decisions to adjust vineyard management and achieve oenological goals.

Characterization of vineyard sites for quality wine production using meteorological, soil chemical and physical data

The quality of grapevines measured by yield and must density in the northern part of Europe -conditions can be characterized as a type of “cool climate” – vary strongly from year to year and from one production site to another, i.e. différences in must densities can range from 30 to 50 °Oe. An explanation may be changes of weather conditions during critical developmental stages of the grapevines (2, 3, 5). These can be categorized as “macro climatic” influences.

The impact of branched chain and aromatic amino acids on fermentation kinetics and aroma biosynthesis by wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

One of the major determinants of wine quality is the aroma. Wine aroma is the human perception of the matrix of grape and yeast derived volatiles and their interaction that contribute to flavour wine. Most common are higher alcohols, ester and aldehydes. In previous studies the formation of characteristic volatile compounds have been linked to the metabolism of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids
(BCAAs) in synthetic grape must. Here we report on an investigation to assess the impact of the initial amino acid concentration on the production of aroma compounds by the industrial yeast VIN13 grown in both synthetic and real grape musts.

Effect of nitrogen content on fermentation kinetics and aroma profile of assyrtiko wine

Today, there is need to design, produce and label terroir wines, with unique organoleptic properties and more “attractive to consumers”. For this purpose, two Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains (Sa and Sb) isolated during spontaneous fermentations were used for white wine production from the Assyrtiko grape of Santorini. A third commercial strain was used as control.

Landscape marketing and landscape reality: what is the relationship? The case of the Loire Valley vineyards

This issue poses two questions: the relationship between beauty and taste (is landscape quality an index of wine quality ?), and the gap or the conformity between our image of the “terroir” and the visible reality. The landscape is both an object and a representation.