Gregory A. Gambetta

Water deficits accelerate ripening and induce changes in gene expression regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in grape berries.

Water deficits consistently promote higher concentrations of anthocyanins in red winegrapes and their wines. However, controversy remains as to whether there is any direct effect on berry metabolism other than inhibition of growth. Early (ED) and late (LD) season water deficits, applied before or after the onset of ripening (veraison), were imposed on field grown Vitis vinifera “Cabernet Sauvignon”, and the responses of gene expression in the flavonoid pathway and their corresponding metabolites were determined. ED accelerated sugar accumulation and the onset of anthocyanin synthesis. Both ED and LD increased anthocyanin accumulation after veraison. Expression profiling revealed that the increased anthocyanin accumulation resulted from earlier and greater expression of the genes controlling flux through the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, including F3H, DFR, UFGT and GST. Increases in total anthocyanins resulted predominantly from an increase of 3′4′5′-hydroxylated forms through the differential regulation of F3′H and F3′5′H. There were limited effects on proanthocyanidin, other flavonols, and on expression of genes committed to their synthesis. These results demonstrate that manipulation of abiotic stress through applied water deficits not only modulates compositional changes during berry ripening, but also alters the timing of particular aspects of the ripening process.

Sugar and abscisic acid signaling orthologs are activated at the onset of ripening in grape

The onset of ripening involves changes in sugar metabolism, softening, and color development. Most understanding of this process arises from work in climacteric fruits where the control of ripening is predominately by ethylene. However, many fruits such as grape are nonclimacteric, where the onset of ripening results from the integration of multiple hormone signals including sugars and abscisic acid (ABA). In this study, we identified ten orthologous gene families in Vitis vinifera containing components of sugar and ABA-signaling pathways elucidated in model systems, including PP2C protein phosphatases, and WRKY and homeobox transcription factors. Gene expression was characterized in control- and deficit-irrigated, field-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Sixty-seven orthologous genes were identified, and 38 of these were expressed in berries. Of the genes expressed in berries, 68% were differentially expressed across development and/or in response to water deficit. Orthologs of several families were induced at the onset of ripening, and induced earlier and to higher levels in response to water deficit; patterns of expression that correlate with sugar and ABA accumulation during ripening. Similar to field-grown berries, ripening phenomena were induced in immature berries when cultured with sucrose and ABA, as evidenced by changes in color, softening, and gene expression. Finally, exogenous sucrose and ABA regulated key orthologs in culture, similar to their regulation in the field. This study identifies novel candidates in the control of nonclimacteric fruit ripening and demonstrates that grape orthologs of key sugar and ABA-signaling components are regulated by sugar and ABA in fleshy fruit.

The relationship between root hydraulics and scion vigour across Vitis rootstocks: what role do root aquaporins play?

Vitis vinifera scions are commonly grafted onto rootstocks of other grape species to influence scion vigour and provide resistance to soil-borne pests and abiotic stress; however, the mechanisms by which rootstocks affect scion physiology remain unknown. This study characterized the hydraulic physiology of Vitis rootstocks that vary in vigour classification by investigating aquaporin (VvPIP) gene expression, fine-root hydraulic conductivity (Lp r), % aquaporin contribution to Lp r, scion transpiration, and the size of root systems. Expression of several VvPIP genes was consistently greater in higher-vigour rootstocks under favourable growing conditions in a variety of media and in root tips compared to mature fine roots. Similar to VvPIP expression patterns, fine-root Lp r and % aquaporin contribution to Lp r determined under both osmotic (Lp r Osm) and hydrostatic (Lp r Hyd) pressure gradients were consistently greater in high-vigour rootstocks. Interestingly, the % aquaporin contribution was nearly identical for Lp r Osm and Lp r Hyd even though a hydrostatic gradient would induce a predominant flow across the apoplastic pathway. In common scion greenhouse experiments, leaf area-specific transpiration (E) and total leaf area increased with rootstock vigour and were positively correlated with fine-root Lp r. These results suggest that increased canopy water demands for scion grafted onto high-vigour rootstocks are matched by adjustments in root-system hydraulic conductivity through the combination of fine-root Lp r and increased root surface area.

Water uptake along the length of grapevine fine roots: developmental anatomy, tissue specific aquaporin expression, and pathways of water transport

Peak aquaporin expression/activity and hydraulic conductivity occurred in root tips and interior tissues; contrary to theoretical predictions, low aquaporin expression and activity in suberized secondary growth portions of fine roots suggests a limited role in controlling water uptake in this region of the root. To better understand water uptake patterns in root systems of woody perennial crops, we detailed the developmental anatomy and hydraulic physiology along the length of grapevine (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris) fine roots from the tip to secondary growth zones. Our characterization included the localization of suberized structures and aquaporin gene expression and the determination of hydraulic conductivity (Lpr) and aquaporin protein activity (via chemical inhibition) in different root zones under both osmotic and hydrostatic pressure gradients. Tissue-specific messenger RNA levels of the plasma membrane aquaporin isogenes (VvPIPs) were quantified using laser-capture microdissection and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results highlight dramatic changes in structure and function along the length of grapevine fine roots. Although the root tip lacked suberization altogether, a suberized exodermis and endodermis developed in the maturation zone, which gave way to the secondary growth zone containing a multilayer suberized periderm. Longitudinally, VvPIP isogenes exhibited strong peaks of expression in the root tip that decreased precipitously along the root length in a pattern similar to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) roots. In the radial orientation, expression was always greatest in interior tissues (i.e. stele, endodermis, and/or vascular tissues) for all root zones. High Lpr and aquaporin protein activity were associated with peak VvPIP expression levels in the root tip. This suggests that aquaporins play a limited role in controlling water uptake in secondary growth zones, which contradicts existing theoretical predictions. Despite having significantly lower Lpr, woody roots can constitute the vast majority of the root system surface area in mature vines and thus provide for significant water uptake potential.

Evidence for hydraulic vulnerability segmentation and lack of xylem refilling under tension

Direct, noninvasive observations of embolism formation and repair reveal a lack of refilling under negative pressure and a xylem hydraulic vulnerability segmentation in grapevine. The vascular system of grapevine (Vitis spp.) has been reported as being highly vulnerable, even though grapevine regularly experiences seasonal drought. Consequently, stomata would remain open below water potentials that would generate a high loss of stem hydraulic conductivity via xylem embolism. This situation would necessitate daily cycles of embolism repair to restore hydraulic function. However, a more parsimonious explanation is that some hydraulic techniques are prone to artifacts in species with long vessels, leading to the overestimation of vulnerability. The aim of this study was to provide an unbiased assessment of (1) the vulnerability to drought-induced embolism in perennial and annual organs and (2) the ability to refill embolized vessels in two Vitis species X-ray micro-computed tomography observations of intact plants indicated that both Vitis vinifera and Vitis riparia were relatively vulnerable, with the pressure inducing 50% loss of stem hydraulic conductivity = −1.7 and −1.3 MPa, respectively. In V. vinifera, both the stem and petiole had similar sigmoidal vulnerability curves but differed in pressure inducing 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (−1.7 and −1 MPa for stem and petiole, respectively). Refilling was not observed as long as bulk xylem pressure remained negative (e.g. at the apical part of the plants; −0.11 ± 0.02 MPa) and change in percentage loss of conductivity was 0.02% ± 0.01%. However, positive xylem pressure was observed at the basal part of the plant (0.04 ± 0.01 MPa), leading to a recovery of conductance (change in percentage loss of conductivity = −0.24% ± 0.12%). Our findings provide evidence that grapevine is unable to repair embolized xylem vessels under negative pressure, but its hydraulic vulnerability segmentation provides significant protection of the perennial stem.

Characterization of major ripening events during softening in grape: turgor, sugar accumulation, abscisic acid metabolism, colour development, and their relationship with growth

Highlight The earliest events in ripening are decreases in turgor, softening, and increases in abscisic acid. Later events integral to regulating colour development include growth, further increases in abscisic acid, and sugar accumulation.

Anthocyanin Composition of Merlot is Ameliorated by Light Microclimate and Irrigation in Central California

An experiment was conducted in central California on Merlot to determine the interaction of time of mechanical leaf removal (control, prebloom, or post fruit-set) and irrigation amount (sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) at 0.8 of estimated vineyard evapotranspiration (ETc) or regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) at 0.8 from budbreak to fruit set, 0.5 from fruit set to veraison, and 0.8 from veraison to leaf fall) on productivity, berry skin anthocyanin concentration and composition, and unit cost per hectare. Prebloom leaf removal (applied ~100 GDD prior to bloom) consistently maintained at least 20% of photosynthetically active radiation in the fruit zone in both years of the study, while post fruit-set leaf removal was inconsistent across years. The RDI treatments reduced berry mass, while post fruit-set leaf removal reduced berry skin mass. Prebloom leaf removal did not affect yield in either year. Exposed leaf area and leaf area to fruit ratio (m2/kg) were reduced with leaf removal. The RDI consistently increased juice soluble solids. Anthocyanin concentration increased with prebloom leaf removal in both years, but irrigation treatments had no effect. The proportions of acylated and hydroxylated anthocyanins were not affected by leaf removal. In both years, SDI increased di-hydroxylated anthocyanins while RDI increased tri-hydroxylated anthocyanins. Prebloom leaf removal when combined with RDI optimized total skin anthocyanins (TSA) per hectare, while no leaf removal and SDI produced the lowest TSA. The cost to produce one unit of TSA was reduced 35% by combining prebloom leaf removal and RDI when compared to no leaf removal and SDI. This study provides information to red winegrape growers in warm regions on how to manage fruit to enhance anthocyanin concentration and the proportion of hydroxylation, while reducing input costs through mechanization and reduced irrigation.

Water Transport Properties of the Grape Pedicel during Fruit Development: Insights into Xylem Anatomy and Function Using Microtomography

Xylem flow into the grape fruit declines before the onset of ripening, and losses in pedicel hydraulic conductivity could be attributed to xylem vessel blockages. Xylem flow of water into fruits declines during fruit development, and the literature indicates a corresponding increase in hydraulic resistance in the pedicel. However, it is unknown how pedicel hydraulics change developmentally in relation to xylem anatomy and function. In this study on grape (Vitis vinifera), we determined pedicel hydraulic conductivity (kh) from pressure-flow relationships using hydrostatic and osmotic forces and investigated xylem anatomy and function using fluorescent light microscopy and x-ray computed microtomography. Hydrostatic kh (xylem pathway) was consistently 4 orders of magnitude greater than osmotic kh (intracellular pathway), but both declined before veraison by approximately 40% and substantially over fruit development. Hydrostatic kh declined most gradually for low (less than 0.08 MPa) pressures and for water inflow and outflow conditions. Specific kh (per xylem area) decreased in a similar fashion to kh despite substantial increases in xylem area. X-ray computed microtomography images provided direct evidence that losses in pedicel kh were associated with blockages in vessel elements, whereas air embolisms were negligible. However, vessel elements were interconnected and some remained continuous postveraison, suggesting that across the grape pedicel, a xylem pathway of reduced kh remains functional late into berry ripening.

Aquaporins and Root Water Uptake

Water is one of the most critical resources limiting plant growth and crop productivity, and root water uptake is an important aspect of plant physiology governing plant water use and stress tolerance. Pathways of root water uptake are complex and are affected by root structure and physiological responses of the tissue. Water travels from the soil to the root xylem through the apoplast (i.e., cell wall space) and/or cell-to-cell, but hydraulic barriers in the apoplast (e.g., suberized structures in the endodermis) can force water to traverse cell membranes at some points along this path. Anytime water crosses a cell membrane, its transport can be affected by the activity of membrane-intrinsic water channel proteins (aquaporins). We review how aquaporins can play an important role in affecting root water transport properties (hydraulic conductivity, Lp), and thus alter water uptake, plant water status, nutrient acquisition, growth, and transpiration. Plants have the capacity to regulate aquaporin activity through a variety of mechanisms (e.g., pH, phosphorylation, internalization, oxidative gating), which may provide a rapid and reversible means of regulating root Lp. Changes in root Lp via the modulation of aquaporin activity is thought to contribute to root responses to a broad range of stresses including drought, salt, nutrient deficiency, and cold. Given their role in contributing to stress tolerance, aquaporins may serve as future targets for improving crop performance in stressful environments.

Drought will not leave your glass empty: Low risk of hydraulic failure revealed by long-term drought observations in world’s top wine regions

Long-term observations in Napa Valley and Bordeaux reveal that grapevines never reach a lethal level of drought. Grapevines are crops of global economic importance that will face increasing drought stress because many varieties are described as highly sensitive to hydraulic failure as frequency and intensity of summer drought increase. We developed and used novel approaches to define water stress thresholds for preventing hydraulic failure, which were compared to the drought stress experienced over a decade in two of the world’s top wine regions, Napa and Bordeaux. We identified the physiological thresholds for drought-induced mortality in stems and leaves and found small intervarietal differences. Long-term observations in Napa and Bordeaux revealed that grapevines never reach their lethal water-potential thresholds under seasonal droughts, owing to a vulnerability segmentation promoting petiole embolism and leaf mortality. Our findings will aid farmers in reducing water use without risking grapevine hydraulic integrity.