Peige Fan

Transcriptomic analysis of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) leaves during and after recovery from heat stress

BackgroundGrapes are a major fruit crop around the world. Heat stress can significantly reduce grape yield and quality. Changes at the molecular level in response to heat stress and subsequent recovery are poorly understood. To elucidate the effect of heat stress and subsequent recovery on expression of genes by grape leaves representing the classic heat stress response and thermotolerance mechanisms, transcript abundance of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) leaves was quantified using the Affymetrix Grape Genome oligonucleotide microarray (15,700 transcripts), followed by quantitative Real-Time PCR validation for some transcript profiles.ResultsWe found that about 8% of the total probe sets were responsive to heat stress and/or to subsequent recovery in grape leaves. The heat stress and recovery responses were characterized by different transcriptional changes. The number of heat stress-regulated genes was almost twice the number of recovery-regulated genes. The responsive genes identified in this study belong to a large number of important traits and biological pathways, including cell rescue (i.e., antioxidant enzymes), protein fate (i.e., HSPs), primary and secondary metabolism, transcription factors, signal transduction, and development. We have identified some common genes and heat shock factors (HSFs) that were modulated differentially by heat stress and recovery. Most HSP genes were upregulated by heat stress but were downregulated by the recovery. On the other hand, some specific HSP genes or HSFs were uniquely responsive to heat stress or recovery.ConclusionThe effect of heat stress and recovery on grape appears to be associated with multiple processes and mechanisms including stress-related genes, transcription factors, and metabolism. Heat stress and recovery elicited common up- or downregulated genes as well as unique sets of responsive genes. Moreover, some genes were regulated in opposite directions by heat stress and recovery. The results indicated HSPs, especially small HSPs, antioxidant enzymes (i.e., ascorbate peroxidase), and galactinol synthase may be important to thermotolerance of grape. HSF30 may be a key regulator for heat stress and recovery, while HSF7 and HSF1 may only be specific to recovery. The identification of heat stress or recovery responsive genes in this study provides novel insights into the molecular basis for heat tolerance in grape leaves.

Inheritance of sugars and acids in berries of grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Inheritance patterns for table grape sugars and organic acids were investigated on three cross offspring populations during two successive years. Glucose and fructose were the predominant sugars in progeny berries with only trace amounts of sucrose. Total sugar content showed additive inheritance and the broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.61 to 0.84. The means of progeny sugar content were lower than mean parent values. Inheritance of malic acid was strongly additive and the broad-sense heritability varied from 0.73 to 0.89. The means of progeny malic acid content were higher than mean parent values. Tartaric acid was mainly controlled by non-additive effect and the broad-sense heritability varied from 0.59 to 0.84. The means of progeny tartaric acid content were lower than mean parent values. Inheritance of the total acid content was strongly additive and was mainly influenced by malic acid. The broad-sense heritability of total acid varied from 0.53 to 0.90.

CIELAB Coordinates in Response to Berry Skin Anthocyanins and Their Composition in Vitis

Berry skin color OIV index, anthocyanin composition, and content of 78 grape cultivars were surveyed using a CIELAB system and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with photodiode array detection. There were high correlations between L*, b*, and color, while a* was not a representative parameter. L* and b* values declined as berry skin color OIV became darker, and a* increased as berry skin color OIV became darker in pink and red grape cultivars only. The composition and content of anthocyanins varied widely among the cultivars. Total anthocyanins and types of anthocyanins were significantly correlated with color OIV parameters. Through multiple linear regression analysis, cyanidin derivatives had a positive effect on values of L* and b*. Delphinidin derivatives had positive effects on the value of a*. The CIELAB system gave good results for differentiation of grape berry skin color OIV.

Changes of Polyphenols, Sugars, and Organic Acid in 5 Vitis Genotypes during Berry Ripening

UNLABELLED The concentrations of sugars, organic acids, and polyphenols during berry ripening in 5 grape genotypes were analyzed using HPLC and HPLC-MS to determine which were correlated. Veraison is critical stage during grape berry development, and marks the beginning of ripening. Glucose and fructose accumulated sharply in a 1: 1ratio, though the concentration of fructose was slightly higher than that of glucose at maturation. Malic acid and tartaric acid were the dominant organic acids, and they decreased rapidly during berry ripening. The 5 cultivars contained 28 anthocyanins and 8 other polyphenols. All anthocyanins accumulated and were positively correlated with the sugars and negatively correlated with the organic acids. Hydroxycinnamic acids declined and were positively correlated with anthocyanin contents. Changes in flavanols and flavonols different among the 5 genotypes, with flavonols positively correlated with anthocyanin content, but the flavanols procyanidin B1and epicatechin negatively correlated with anthocyanins content. There were obvious differences in patterns of change of polyphenols among 5 grape genotypes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The results could be used for improving grape berry quality during ripening and developing a comprehensive database of primary and secondary metabolites in the Vitis for grape breeding.

Anthocyanin Accumulation in Various Organs of a Teinturier Cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.) during the Growing Season

The anthocyanin composition and concentration of various organs of teinturier grape Yan-73 were studied throughout the growing season. Nineteen anthocyanins were identified by HPLC-MS as monoglucosides and their derivatives. Anthocyanin composition and concentration varied among grape organs and by developmental stage. Skin anthocyanins were mainly composed of malvidin derivatives, while peonidin derivatives were the most dominant anthocyanins in the pulp. Both malvidin and peonidin derivatives were predominant components in carpopodia (swollen pedicel at point of berry attachment), berry pedicels, leaf lamina, vein and petioles, and living bark at the base of the shoot. Anthocyanins were very low before veraison, and then increased sharply at veraison in berry skin and pulp. Anthocyanins in carpopodia and berry pedicels also increased sharply, although occurring later than in berry skin and pulp. Anthocyanins were high in young and senescing leaf lamina and low in expanding and mature lamina. Anthocyanins did not vary much in leaf vein and petiole tissue, or in bark, throughout the growing season.

Effect of Sunlight Exclusion at Different Phenological Stages on Anthocyanin Accumulation in Red Grape Clusters

The influence of sunlight exclusion from grape clusters at different phenological stages on berry composition, especially anthocyanin accumulation in berry skin, was investigated. Sunlight was excluded from clusters at three different stages: fruit set to about 1 week preveraison, about 1 week preveraison to about 1 week postveraison, and about 1 week postveraison to maturity for the red grape cv. Jingxiu (Vitis vinifera L.) over two seasons and three cultivation conditions (in the field in 2011 and in the greenhouse and rain shelter in 2012). Sunlight exclusion at the different stages did not consistently affect berry weight, soluble solids content, or titratable acidity at maturity. However, sunlight exclusion from fruit set to 1 week preveraison consistently significantly increased anthocyanin content both at 1 week postveraison and at maturity, compared to the clusters exposed to sunlight throughout fruit development (control). Clusters with sunlight excluded from 1 week preveraison to 1 week postveraison accumulated less anthocyanins than control clusters at 1 week postveraison, while re-exposure to sunlight resulted in recovery of anthocyanin synthesis to a similar total content to control clusters at maturity. The absence of sunlight from 1 week postveraison to maturity did not significantly affect anthocyanin content compared to the control. The increase of anthocyanin content by sunlight exclusion from fruit set to 1 week preveraison might have a practical application for production of more anthocyanins in red grape berry skin.

Regulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Tissues of a Teinturier Grape Cultivar under Sunlight Exclusion

Yan-73 (Vitis vinifera) is a teinturier grape cultivar, which accumulates anthocyanins in skin, pulp, pedicels, and rachis. The effects of sunlight on anthocyanin biosynthesis and regulation in various tissues of this teinturier cultivar were investigated. Light transmission measurements showed that covering with opaque boxes substantially reduced light intensity around clusters; ≤0.25% of incident light reached the berry skin and <0.05% reached the pulp. The pulp naturally experiences increasing sunlight exclusion by skin during ripening. Sunlight exclusion reduced and delayed anthocyanin biosynthesis in skin and pulp during berry development, while both tissues nevertheless accumulated enough anthocyanins to turn dark red. No strong reduction of anthocyanin concentration was observed in pedicels or rachis. Sunlight exclusion decreased transcript abundance of VvUFGT, VvMybA1, VvMybA2, and VvMyc1 in both skin and pulp and also decreased transcript abundance of VvMycA1 in pulp. Sunlight exclusion differently influenced the anthocyanin components: it decreased the relative proportion of 3′,4′,5′-hydroxylated anthocyanins and increased that of 3′,4′-hydroxylated anthocyanins in berry skin and pulp, which corresponded to the change in the ratio of VvF3′H to VvF3′5′H. These results allow for insight on anthocyanin biosynthesis in various grape tissues in absence of sunlight.

Resveratrols in grape berry skins and leaves in vitis germplasm.

Background Resveratrol is an important stilbene that benefits human health. However, it is only distributed in a few species including grape and is very expensive. At present, grape has been an important source resveratrol. However, the details are scarce on resveratrol distribution in different Vitis species or cultivars. Methodology/Principal Finding The composition and content of resveratrols were investigated by HPLC for assessing genotypic variation in berry skins and leaves of 75 grape cultivars, belonging to 3 species and 7 interspecific hybrids. Trans-resveratrol, cis-piceid and trans-piceid were detected in berry skins and leaves, but cis-resveratrol was not. Resveratrol content largely varied with genetic background as well as usage. In most cultivars, total resveratrol including the above three compounds was higher in berry skins than leaves. In berry skins of most cultivars and leaves of almost all cultivars, cis-piceid was the most abundant resveratrol; trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid were minor components. Some specific cultivars were found with extremely high levels of trans-resveratrol, cis- piceid, trans-piceid or total resveratrols in berry skins or leaves. In skins and leaves, rootstock cultivars had a higher content of total resveratrols, and the cultivated European type cultivars and their hybrids with V. labrusca had relatively low totals. There were no significant correlations of the amounts of total resveratrols or any individual resveratrol between berry skins and leaves. All 75 cultivars can be divided into four groups based on the composition of resveratrols and their concentration by principal component analysis. Conclusion Resveratrol content of grape berries and leaves varied largely with their genetic background and usage. Rootstock cultivars had a higher content of total resveratrols than the other germplasm. Total resveratrols were lower in leaves than berry skins in most cultivars. Cis-piceid was the most abundant resveratrol in most cultivars, and trans-res and trans-pd were minor components.

Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profile Analysis of Prunus persica in Response to Low Sink Demand after Fruit Removal

Prunus persica fruits were removed from 1-year-old shoots to analysis photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and genes changes in leaves to low sink demand caused by fruit removal (−fruit) during the final stage of rapid fruit growth. A decline in net photosynthesis rate was observed, accompanied with a decrease in stomatal conductance. The intercellular CO2 concentrations and leaf temperature increased as compared with a normal fruit load (+fruit). Moreover, low sink demand significantly inhibited the donor side and the reaction center of photosystem II. 382 genes in leaf with an absolute fold change ≥1 change in expression level, representing 116 up- and 266 down-regulated genes except for unknown transcripts. Among these, 25 genes for photosynthesis were down-regulated, 69 stress and 19 redox related genes up-regulated under the low sink demand. These studies revealed high leaf temperature may result in a decline of net photosynthesis rate through down-regulation in photosynthetic related genes and up-regulation in redox and stress related genes, especially heat shock proteins genes. The complex changes in genes at the transcriptional level under low sink demand provided useful starting points for in-depth analyses of source-sink relationship in P. persica.

Introduction, breeding and production of winegrapes in china

The earliest viticulture in China can be traced to the Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. Modern winegrape viticulture began in the 1890s with the birth of ChangYu Pioneer Wine Company Limited, which introduced 120 cultivars to test in China. These cultivars were Vitis vinifera such as ?Cabernet Sauvignon?, ?Merlot?, ?Chardonnay? and ?Riesling?. However, grape production including winegrapes comprised a very small area (3,200 ha) before 1949. The breeding of winegrapes in China was initiated with crosses of V. vinifera with V. amurensis at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBCAS), in 1954. Other research units in China also introduced western and eastern European cultivars to evaluate and select at the same time. Although there was a sharp increase in grape production in the 1950?s, further growth of winegrape production was slow until the early 1970?s. With its release by IBCAS, ?Beichun? became the main winegrape cultivar in the south of China with 7,000 ha in production during the 1970s and 1980s. V. vinifera cultivars such as ?Cabernet Sauvignon? have become important from 1990s to now. However, ?Beihong? and ?Beimei?, released by IBCAS, have become widely grown in the past 5 years and are strong competitors to ?Cabernet Sauvignon? and other V. vinifera because they have higher tolerance to cold and disease and have a 24-27% soluble solids content. In addition, the winegrapes ?Gongniang 1? and ?Gongniang 2? from V. vinifera × V. amurensis crosses were released by Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and three ?Shuang? series cultivars were derived from V. amurensis at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Although these cultivars also have high cold tolerance, they have few good winegrape characters, so they are only grown in northeast China. ?Yan 73? and ?Yan 74?, good teinturier cultivars, were developed by ChangYu Pioneer Wine Company Limited. Three ?Mei? series grape cultivars for red wine and 2 ?Quan? series grape cultivars for white wine were released by the Shandong Vine and Wine-making Institute. However, these cultivars are only grown in small areas and are primarily kept as grape germplasm material.