Effects of Methyl Jasmonate and Nano-Methyl Jasmonate Treatments on Monastrell Wine Volatile Composition

Abstract

The application of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) as an elicitor to enhance secondary metabolites in grapes and wines has been studied, but there is little information about its use in conjunction with nanotechnology and no information about its effects on wine volatile compounds. This led us to study the impact of nanoparticles doped with MeJ (Nano-MeJ, 1mM MeJ) on the volatile composition of Monastrell wines over three seasons, compared with the application of MeJ in a conventional way (10 mM MeJ). The results showed how both treatments enhanced fruity esters in wines regardless of the vintage year, although the increase was more evident when grapes were less ripe. These treatments also achieved these results in 2019 in the cases of 1-propanol, ß-phenyl-ethanol, and methionol, in 2020 in the cases of hexanol and methionol, and in 2021, but only in the case of hexanol. On the other hand, MeJ treatment also increased the terpene fraction, whereas Nano-MeJ, at the applied concentration, did not increase it in any of the seasons. In summary, although not all families of volatile compounds were increased by Nano-MeJ, the Nano-MeJ treatment generally increased the volatile composition to an extent similar to that obtained with MeJ used in a conventional way, but at a 10 times lower dose. Therefore, the use of nanotechnology could be a good option for improving the quality of wines from an aromatic point of view, while reducing the necessary dosage of agrochemicals, in line with more sustainable agricultural practices.

Methyl Jasmonate and Nanoparticles Doped with Methyl Jasmonate affect the Cell Wall Composition of Monastrell Grape Skins

“…The study was performed over three seasons (2019–2021) in the experimental field El Chaparral located in Cehegin (Murcia, Spain) (latitude 38.11179 and longitude −1.6808), where the climatic conditions are considered semi-arid continental and the soil is loamy sand. The vineyards were Vitis vinifera L. Monastrell variety on Richter 110 rootstock, trained in a bilateral cordon system and within-row spacing of 3 × 0.8 m. Three treatments were applied in triplicate at veraison and one week later, following the same protocol described above [ 24 ], with 10 vines per replicate: (i) control (water), (ii) 10 mM MeJ and (iii) nano-MeJ at 3.6 g L −1 (equivalent to 1 mM in MeJ). When the grapes reached technological maturity (sugar/acidity ratio), a manual harvest was carried out.…”

“…In addition, other researchers showed an increase in stilbene content in Monastrell wines from grapes treated with MeJ and nano-MeJ [ 23 ]. Finally, Giménez-Bañón et al [ 24 ] found a higher concentration of fruity ester compounds in Monastrell wines from nano-MeJ-treated grapes.…”

Different response of proanthocyanidins from Vitis vinifera cv. Monastrell depending on time of elicitor application

“…The extract was dried under vacuum at 35 °C with a Centrivap concentrator (Labconco, Kansas City, MO, USA) and subsequently redissolved in 2 mL methanol (MeOH) (gradient highperformance liquid chromatography; PAI-ACS, Panreac). The methanolic extract was left to react with the phloroglucinolysis reagent (1:1) in a water bath (20 2) with a flow rate of 0.8 mL min −1 was used for separation. Eluted peaks were monitored at 280 nm.…”

“…12 There are numerous studies on the effect of the application of elicitors in the field, specifically in the vineyard; two examples of such compounds are methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and benzothiadiazole (BTH; benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester), which are effective in increasing concentration of aromas, nitrogen compounds, and phenolic compounds in different varieties of wine grapes. [15][16][17][18][19][20] MeJ has been mainly implicated as a mediator in plant responses triggered by wounding and insect feeding and is involved in pathogen resistance. 21 BTH is a synthetic functional analogue of the plant endogenous hormone-like compound salicylic acid, which induces defence genes leading to systemic acquired resistance and an increase in phenolic production.…”

“…There are numerous studies on the effect of the application of elicitors in the field, specifically in the vineyard; two examples of such compounds are methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and benzothiadiazole (BTH; benzo‐(1,2,3)‐thiadiazole‐7‐carbothioic acid S ‐methyl ester), which are effective in increasing concentration of aromas, nitrogen compounds, and phenolic compounds in different varieties of wine grapes 15–20 …”