Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a non-climacteric fruit species used as table fruit, dried raisins, and for vinification (wines) and distillation (liquors). In recent years, our knowledge of the molecular basis of ripening regulation has improved. Water status, light conditions, and temperature may hasten, delay, or enhance ripening. Hormones seem to play a central role, as their concentrations change prior to and during ripening and in response to several environmental cues. The review summarizes recent data related to the molecular and hormonal control of grape berry development and ripening, with special emphasis on secondary metabolism and its response to the environment, and pinpoints some experimental limitations.

Genetic control of the different attributes involved in peach quality has been investigated in an advanced backcross population derived from a cross between Prunus davidiana clone P1908, a wild parent with poor agronomic performance, and a commercial variety, Summergrand. A total of 24 physical and biochemical traits were investigated. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for all the traits studied. We identified alleles from P. davidiana with agronomically favorable effects regarding fruit and stone sizes, sugar and acid concentrations and red flesh coloration, in clear contrast to its phenotype. We identified three main regions of the genome where alleles from P. davidiana had negative effects on multiple traits. In other regions, co-locations of QTLs with opposite effects on quality traits were also detected. We discuss the nature of these co-locations in the light of the probable physiological mechanisms involved. Strategies to cope with negative correlations between favorable traits and co-locations of P. davidiana alleles with negative effects on quality traits and positive effects regarding resistance to powdery mildew are discussed from a breeding point of view.

A total of 98 grape cultivars were studied for content and composition of organic acids and sugars in grape juice during two consecutive years. Glucose and fructose were the predominant sugars in grape berries and ranged from 45.86 to 122.89 mg mL −1 , and 47.64 to 131.04 mg mL −1 , respectively, in two years. Sucrose was present at trace amounts in most cultivars, but two cultivars of hybrids between Vitis labrusca and V. vinifera contained large amounts of sucrose. Tartaric acid content in berries, varying from 1.57 to 9.09 and 1.54 to 9.05 mg mL −1 , respectively, in two years, was significantly higher than malic acid, which ranged from 0.38 to 6.05 and 0.36 to 7.06 mg mL −1 , respectively, in two years. Moreover, significantly higher total soluble sugars and fructose and lower total acids and malic acid were found in cultivars from hybrids between V. labrusca and V. vinifera than those in V. vinifera cultivars, and wine grapes had higher total sugars and acids than table grapes from V. vinifera. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that genotypic correlations among sugar and acid contents were stable and the first three PCs accounted for about 82% of total variance in both years. PC1 was highly connected with glucose and fructose contents, and sucrose was an important contributor to the variance for PC2, as well as for PC3. PC2 and PC3 were highly connected also with organic acids, but the contributor to variance differed from one year to the next. Tartaric acid was the main contributor to variance in 2003, and malic acid was important in 2004 for PC2 and PC3. In a scatter plot of the score values of all genotypes projected to the PC1 and PC2 plane, three groups of cultivars tend to cluster based on their genetic background or purpose of use. The cultivars of hybrid V. labrusca and V. vinifera were represented by high sugars, especially sucrose, and low acids. Among the cultivars of V. vinifera, wine grapes were found in general to have more sugars and acids than table grapes. The composition of sugars was stable in grape berries between the two years, while acids were sensitive to climate changes. Finally, the different responses of malic and tartaric acids to climate change is discussed.