Developmental, molecular and genetic studies on grapevine response to temperature open breeding strategies for adaptation to warming

Abstract

Aim: In the long term, genetic improvement is one of the major strategies to support sustainable wine production in a changing climate. Over the past 5 years, we have developed an interdisciplinary research program that aimed to: i) characterize the impact of temperature increase sensed by the entire plant or individual bunches on the development and functioning of the plant, ii) identify the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating the response of vegetative and reproductive development to heat stress and iii) develop tools to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of plant and berry development in duly controlled, stable, and contrasting environmental conditions.Methods and results: Performing high-throughput genomic analyses combined with the use of innovative experimental designs (fruiting cuttings, microvines, single berry sampling) was critical to decipher the ecophysiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the vine response to high temperature.Conclusion: Warming promotes vegetative growth and hampers plant carbon balance, disturbing flower set and young berry development. High temperatures modify primary and secondary fruit metabolisms, desynchronizing sugar and organic acid metabolisms and delaying sugar and polyphenol accumulation during ripening. The study of day and night transcriptomic and proteomic signatures associated with heat highlighted key players of the response to temperature in the fruit. Significance and impact of the study: Capitalizing on this knowledge, a new program is being proposed for the selection of cultivars limiting the accumulation of sugars in the berry while maintaining other qualitative compounds.

Impact of agronomic practices on grape aroma composition: a review

“…Water has an important role in plant production, in both primary and secondary metabolisms, and as a result many authors have studied the influence of water limitations on the concentrations of aroma compounds. This is a critically important issue because many viticulture regions in the world are becoming warmer and dryer due to climate change, and this can affect grape quality . Although negative effects occur as a result of an extreme lack of water, moderate water stress is often used for increasing grape quality and saving water.…”

“…This is a critically important issue because many viticulture regions in the world are becoming warmer and dryer due to climate change, and this can affect grape quality. 26 Although negative effects occur as a result of an extreme lack of water, moderate water stress is often used for increasing grape quality and saving water. Water stress impacts the biosynthesis of aroma compounds in different ways depending on the molecular family concerned.…”

“…Many authors have studied the influence of grape aroma on wine quality . Understanding how these factors affect grapes' composition is critical to developing strategies for adapting viticultural practices to climate change …”

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Understanding how these factors affect grapes' composition is critical to developing strategies for adapting viticultural practices to climate change. [25][26][27] Plant volatile compounds (VOCs), which are determined by the variety and may be influenced by vineyard management and biotic or abiotic stresses, have a key role in grape quality. They are secondary metabolites, and, as shown in previous research on phenolic compounds, 28 agronomic practices can influence the content and profile of secondary metabolites in two different ways: directly, where biosynthesis of the molecules changes as a result of agronomic practice, and indirectly, as a consequence of a variation in the concentration of the molecules, due to changes in the fruit volume and weight.…”

Oregano essential oil vapour preventsPlasmopora viticolainfection in grapevine (Vitis Vinifera) by triggering autoimmune metabolic pathways

“…The study, however, provides important molecular data, such as target genes, gene networks and metabolic pathways involved in the innate immune system of the plant and therefore important for future genetics studies and resistance-breeding programmes (100–102).…”