Defining the terroir of the Columbia gorge wine region, Oregon and Washington, USA using geographic information systems (GIS)

During wine storage and aging, microorganisms capable of degrading malic acid in an undesirable manner can proliferate.

The recent development of regulatory genomics has raised increasing interest in plant research since transcriptional regulation of genes plays a pivotal role in many biological processes. By shedding light on the target genes of the various transcription factors (TFs), it is therefore possible to infer the influence they exert on the different molecular mechanisms. In this regard, the attention was focused on WRKYs, a family of TFs almost exclusively found in plant species. In grapevine, WRKYs are involved in several biological processes, playing a key role in berry development, hormonal balance and signalling, biotic and abiotic stresses responses, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis.

Context and purpose of the study ‐ Recently early defoliation (ED) has been tested in several high‐ yielding grapevine varieties and sites aiming at reducing cluster compactness and hence, regulating yield and susceptibility to botrytis bunch rot infection. The reported results have been generally positive, encouraging growers to use this canopy management technique as an alternative for replacing the conventional time‐consuming cluster thinning and, simultaneously, as a sustainable practice to reduce the use of fungicides. However, ED increases berry sunburn risks and/or can induce carry‐over effects on vigor and node fruitfulness as shown in the two case studies reported in this work.

Ectopic RNA application for plant defense faces challenges in tree crops, including size, diffusion, and stability of active compounds such as ribonucleoproteins and nucleic acids. While existing strategies involve expressing dsRNA in transgenic plants targeting pathogens, our research strives to develop a transient RNAi system based on Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS). This approach aims to circumvent legal barriers and public concerns associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Our strategy integrates SIGS with branched polyethyleneimine-functionalized Carbon Dots (bPEI-CDs) as nanocarriers, effectively addressing unique delivery challenges in plant defense as RNA stability and uptake enhancement

Yield is an agronomic trait that is critical to the sustained success and profitability of the wine industry. In the context of global warming, overall yield tends to decrease. Rootstock has been identified as a relevant lever for adaptation to changing environmental conditions. The aims of this study are; i) to finely identify the components of the yield influenced by rootstock; ii) to characterise the rootstock × scion interaction; iii) to understand the trade-off between vigour and yield.