Environmental Factors Correlated with the Metabolite Profile of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir Berry Skins along a European Latitudinal Gradient

Abstract

Mature berries of Pinot Noir grapevines were sampled across a latitudinal gradient in Europe, from southern Spain to central Germany. Our aim was to study the influence of latitude-dependent environmental factors on the metabolite composition (mainly phenolic compounds) of berry skins. Solar radiation variables were positively correlated with flavonols and flavanonols and, to a lesser extent, with stilbenes and cinnamic acids. The daily means of global and erythematic UV solar radiation over long periods (bud break-veraison, bud break-harvest, and veraison-harvest), and the doses and daily means in shorter development periods (5-10 days before veraison and harvest) were the variables best correlated with the phenolic profile. The ratio between trihydroxylated and monohydroxylated flavonols, which was positively correlated with antioxidant capacity, was the berry skin variable best correlated with those radiation variables. Total flavanols and total anthocyanins did not show any correlation with radiation variables. Air temperature, degree days, rainfall, and aridity indices showed fewer correlations with metabolite contents than radiation. Moreover, the latter correlations were restricted to the period veraison-harvest, where radiation, temperature, and water availability variables were correlated, making it difficult to separate the possible individual effects of each type of variable. The data show that managing environmental factors, in particular global and UV radiation, through cultural practices during specific development periods, can be useful to promote the synthesis of valuable nutraceuticals and metabolites that influence wine quality.

Phenolic characteristics acquired by berry skins of Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo in response to close‐to‐ambient solar ultraviolet radiation are mostly reflected in the resulting wines

“…The bulk level of phenolic compounds was measured as the area under the absorbance curve in the interval 280–400 nm (AUC 280–400 ) per unit of dry weight (DW), using a Perkin‐Elmer λ35 spectrophotometer (Perkin‐Elmer, Wilton, CT, USA). Individual phenolic compounds were analyzed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) using a Waters Acquity Ultra Performance LC system (Waters Corporation, Milford, USA) . The UPLC system was coupled to a micrOTOF II high‐resolution mass spectrometer (Bruker Daltonics, Germany) equipped with an Apollo II ESI/APCI multimode source and controlled using DataAnalysis software (Bruker Daltonics).…”

“…Studies of this type have assessed the effects of both ambient solar and artificially enhanced UV levels using specific cut‐off filters or lamps providing supplemental UV, respectively. In addition, the effects of UV natural gradients have been evaluated . Several conceptually different studies have examined the effects of decreasing or increasing the exposure of grapes to the full solar spectrum through shading or leaf removal, respectively.…”

Phenolic Compound Diversity Explored in the Context of Photo‐Oxidative Stress Protection

“…These include (i) locating strong 1 O 2 and H 2 O 2 antioxidant flavonols in chloroplasts and nuclei (Saunders and McClure, 1976;Feucht et al, 2004) (ii) identifying a complementary tuning between the biosynthesis rates of Csepregi K. and Hideg É. (Burchard et al, 2000;Kolb et al, 2001;Agati et al, 2002;Kotilainen et al, 2008;Del-Castillo-Alonso et al, 2016;Grifoni et al 2016) and between kaempferol and quercetin derivatives upon exposure to UV-B or strong sunlight (Ryan et al, 1998;Hofmann et al, 2000;Jaakola et al, 2004, Hectors et al 2014Majer et al 2014); (iii) establishing that the over-expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes increased stress tolerance and decreased cellular H 2 O 2 concentrations (Meng et al, 2015).…”

Environmental plasticity of Pinot noir grapevine leaves: A trans‐European study of morphological and biochemical changes along a 1,500‐km latitudinal climatic gradient

“…Latitudinal climatic gradients are important determinants of plant growth, metabolism, and development (Hulshof et al, , Willin, Kaufman, & Stevens, ). Conversely, climatic variation along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients provides an excellent and natural experimental set‐up for investigating the impacts of climatic variables on terrestrial organisms and ecosystems (De Frenne et al, ; Del‐Castillo‐Alonso et al, ; Hillebrand, ; Körner, ). Climatic variables along the latitudinal gradient represent typical growth conditions of crops and/or wild species, and therefore, studies are not subjected to the potential flaws of experimental manipulation that may arise under controlled conditions.…”