Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Response of different nitrogen supplementation on Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic response and wine aromatic profile

Response of different nitrogen supplementation on Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic response and wine aromatic profile

Abstract

The wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can highly affect wine aromatic profile by producing and/or mediating the release of a whole range of metabolites (such as thiols, esters, and terpenes), which in turn contribute to enhanced aroma and flavor. These metabolites depend on yeast metabolism activated during fermentation which can constitute the ‘’metabolic footprint’’ of the yeast strain that carried out the process. The aim of the present research was to study the metabolism of S. cerevisiae under two different nitrogen supplementation status and to investigate the relative expression of specific genes, that are directly related to the biosynthesis of specific potent odornats such as, terpenes and esters. 

The commercial yeast strains 1X (S.cerevisiae) and 2X (S.cerevisiae x S.bayanus) were inoculated in Moschofilero (Vitis Vinifera L. cv) grape must under two different concentrations of yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), a  low at 150 mg/L and a high at 300 mg/L. The produced wines were analyzed for their standard enological parameters, their volatile composition by SPE/GC–MS analysis as well as for their sensory profile. Totally 8 fermentations trials, were realised in triplicate. The fermentation was monitored by measuring the optical density and sugar consumption. Metabolic response was tested through real-time RT-PCR of genes implicated in aroma production of esters and terpenes such as ATF1, ATF2, EEB1, EHT1, IAH1, BGL2, EXG1. Sampling for metabolites and gene expression analysis were taken at the time of inoculation, after 48 hours, when two thirds of the sugars were depleted and at the end of the alcoholic fermentation (< 2g/L rs).

In terms of the volatile characterization of the wines, esters, linalool and nerol appeared to be clearly distinct between the different levels of YAN, which confirms the specialization in volatile compounds production among different nitrogen concentration levels. For instance, linalool was found to be at 0.05 mg/L for low nitrogen concentration, while high nitrogen levels resulted to a concentration of 0.12 mg/L. Real-time-PCR results revealed that, in both cases of nitrogen implementation, the analyzed genes were found to be expressed mainly before the fermentation of the 70% of the sugars. In addition, an overexpression of the BGL2 gene, corresponded well to the linalool concentration found, was observed in case of high nitrogen condition. Also, the EHT1 was expressed five times higher in case of high nitrogen concentration. Finally, correlations between ethyl esters and EEB1, acetate esters and ATF2 (p<0.05) were also found in both cases. 

Our study revealed the impact of different nitrogen implementations on the volatile compounds and the relative expression of specific genes. Metabolic analysis of selected volatile components of the wine aroma in conjunction with transcriptional analyses provide a great approach to orient the fermentation process towards a desirable wine aromatic profile.

DOI:

Publication date: September 3, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Despina Lola, Chrysanthi KALLONIATI, Maria DIMOPOULOU, Maria Ioanna XENIA, Emmanouil FLEMETAKIS, Yorgos KOTSERIDIS

Laboratory of Oenology and Alcoholic Drinks (LEAD), Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece, Department of Wine, Vine and Beverage Sciences, School of Food Science, University of West Attica, Greece, Laboratory of Oenology and Alcoholic Drinks  (LEAD), Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece, Laboratory of Enology and Alcoholic Drinks (LEAD), Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece

Contact the author

Keywords

yeast metabolism, yan, nitrogen supplementation, volatile profile, gene expression

Citation

Related articles…

Soil quality in Beaujolais vineyard. Importance of pedology and cultural practices

A pedological study was carried out from 2009 to 2017 in Beaujolais vineyard, to improve physical and chemical knowledge of soils. It was completed in 2016 and 2017 by the current study, dealing with microbial aspects, in order to build a reference frame for improved advice in soil management. Microbial biomass was measured on representative plots of the six most common soil types identified in Beaujolais and, for each soil type, on plots with different levels of the main impacting parameters: total organic carbon, pH, cation exchange capacity, extractable copper. A total of 59 soil samples were collected. Confirming the results of various trials carried out in Beaujolais over the past 20 years, the results of the present study showed that the soils were still alive, but exhibited a large variability of biological parameters, which appeared dependant on both pedological and anthropic factors. Therefore, a good interpretation of biological parameters and advice for vine growers must rely on a pedologically-based referential with differentiated main driving factors. For example, the control of pH is of primary importance in granitic soils and in no way organic matter addition can improve soil quality if pH is too low. Conversely, in calcareous soils, biological parameters are more directly affected by direct or indirect (cover crops for example) inputs of organic matter. The use of biological parameters, such as microbial biomass, is of great potential value to improve advice on agro-viticultural practices (soil management, fertilization, liming, etc.), basis of a sustainable wine production on fragile soils.

Climate change impacts: a multi-stress issue

With the aim of producing premium wines, it is admitted that moderate environmental stresses may contribute to the accumulation of compounds of interest in grapes. However the ongoing climate change, with the appearance of more limiting conditions of production is a major concern for the wine industry economic. Will it be possible to maintain the vineyards in place, to preserve the current grape varieties and how should we anticipate the adaptation measures to ensure the sustainability of vineyards? In this context, the question of the responses and adaptation of grapevine to abiotic stresses becomes a major scientific issue to tackle. An abiotic stress can be defined as the effect of a specific factor of the physico-chemical environment of the plants (temperature, availability of water and minerals, light, etc.) which reduces growth, and for a crop such as the vine, the yield, the composition of the fruits and the sustainability of the plants. Water stress is in many minds, but a systemic vision is essential for at least two reasons. The first reason is that in natural environments, a single factor is rarely limiting, and plants have to deal with a combination of constraints, as for example heat and drought, both in time and at a given time. The second reason is that plants, including grapevine, have central mechanisms of stress responses, as redox regulatory pathways, that play an important role in adaptation and survival. Here we will review the most recent studies dealing with this issue to provide a better understanding of the grapevine responses to a combination of environmental constraints and of the underlying regulatory pathways, which may be very helpful to design more adapted solutions to cope with climate change.

Upscaling the integrated terroir zoning through digital soil mapping: a case study in the Designation of Origin Campo de Borja

homogeneous zones by intersecting several partial zonings of major factors that influence vineyard growth. Each of them follows specific process from their corresponding disciplines. Soil zoning specifically refers to a Soil Resource Inventory map that has traditionally been generated by conventional soil mapping methods. These methods have shortcomings in reaching fine cartographic and categorical details and involve significant expenses, which undermines their applicability. A new framework named Digital Soil Mapping has introduced quantitative models by statistical techniques to establish soil-landscape relationships and is able to provide intensive scale cartography.

In the present study, a microzoning at 1:10.000 scale is generated from an initial zoning, where the conventional soil map with polytaxic map units is replaced by a new one from digital techniques that disaggregates them. The comparison between the zonings considers a quantitative evaluation of capability for each Homogeneous Terroir Unit by means of the Viticultural Quality Index and its categorization based on its distribution by map. The spatial intersection of both maps gives rise to a confusion matrix in which the flows of class variations after the substitution are assessed.

The results show a five-fold increase in the number of Homogeneous Terroir Units identified and a larger differentiation among them, evidenced by a wider range in the capability index distribution. Both elements are accompanied by an increase in the detection of areas of higher potential within previously undervalued uniform zones.These features are a direct effect of the improvements brought by Digital Soil Mapping techniques and would verify the advantages of their implementation in the Integrated Terroir zoning. Eventually, such new highly detailed terroir units would benefit precision viticulture and sustainable management practices.

Modeling the suitability of Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in a changing climate

Air temperature is the key driver of grapevine phenology and a significant environmental factor impacting yield and quality for a winegrape growing region. In this study the optimal downscaled CMIP5 ensemble for computing thegrowing season average temperature (GST) viticulture climate classification index was determined to spatially compute on a decadal basis predictions of the GST climate index and the grapevine sugar ripeness (GSR) model for Pinot Noir throughout the Willamette Valley (WV) American Viticultural Area (AVA). Forecasts for average temperature and a 220 g/L target sugar concentration level were computed using daily Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) downscaled CMIP5 historic and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) future climate projections of minimum and maximum daily temperature. We explore spatiotemporal trends of the GST climate classification index and Pinot Noir specific applications of the GSR phenology model for the WV AVA. Spatiotemporal computations of the GST climate index and Pinot Noir specific applications of the GSR model enable the opportunity to explore relationships between their computed values with one intent being to provide updated GST ranges that better align with current temperature-based modeling understanding of Pinot Noir grapevine phenology and the viticultural application of LOCA CMIP5 climate projections for the WV AVA. The Pinot Noir specific applications of the GSR model or the GST index with updated bounds indicate that the percent of the WV AVA area suitable for Pinot Noir production is currently at or near its peak value in the upper 80s to lower 90s of this century.

Adaptation to soil and climate through the choice of plant material

Choosing the rootstock, the scion variety and the training system best suited to the local soil and climate are the key elements for an economically sustainable production of wine. The choice of the rootstock/scion variety best adapted to the characteristics of the soil is essential but, by changing climatic conditions, ongoing climate change disrupts the fine-tuned local equilibrium. Higher temperatures induce shifts in developmental stages, with on the one hand increasing fears of spring frost damages and, on the other hand, ripening during the warmest periods in summer. Expected higher water demand and longer and more frequent drought events are also major concerns. The genetic control of the phenotypes, by genomic information but also by the epigenetic control of gene expression, offers a lot of opportunities for adapting the plant material to the future. For complex traits, genomic selection is also a promising method for predicting phenotypes. However, ecophysiological modelling is necessary to better anticipate the phenotypes in unexplored climatic conditions Genetic approaches applied on parameters of ecophysiological models rather than raw observed data are more than ever the basis for finding, or building, the ideal varieties of the future.