Elicitor and resistance/​inducing activities of {beta}/​1,4 cellodextrins in
grapevine, comparison with {beta}/​1,3 glucans and {alpha}/​1,4
oligogalacturonides.

Aziz A, Gauthier A, Bezier A, Poinssot B, Joubert JM, Pugin A, Heyraud A,
Baillieul F.

URVVC/​EA 2069, Stress, Defenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Universite de Reims
Champagne/​Ardenne, BP 1039, F/​51687 Reims cedex 2, France.

Cellodextrins (CD), water/​soluble derivatives of cellulose composed of beta/​1,4
glucoside residues, have been shown to induce a variety of defence responses in
grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cells. The larger oligomers of CD rapidly induced
transient generation of H(2)O(2) and elevation in free cytosolic calcium,
followed by a differential expression of genes encoding key enzymes of the
phenylpropanoid pathway and pathogenesis/​related (PR) proteins as well as
stimulation of chitinase and beta/​1,3 glucanase activities. Most of these
defence reactions were also induced by linear beta/​1,3 glucans (betaGlu) and
alpha/​1,4 oligogalacturonides (OGA) of different degree of polymerization (DP),
but the intensity of some reactions induced by CD was different when compared
with betaGlu and OGA effects. Moreover, desensitization assays using H(2)O(2)
production showed that cells treated with CD remained fully responsive to a
second application of OGA, suggesting a different mode of perception of these
oligosaccharides by grape cells. None of CD, betaGlu, or OGA induced HSR gene
expression nor did they induce cell death. In accordance with elicitor activity
in grapevine cells, CD/​incubated leaves challenged with Botrytis cinerea also
resulted in a significant reduction of the disease. Data suggest that CD could
operate via other distinct reaction pathways than betaGlu and OGA. They also
highlight the requirement of a specific DP for each oligosaccharide to induce
the defence response.

PMID: 17322548 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

2: Bioresour Technol. 2007 Feb 22; [Epub ahead of print]

Volatile components of grape pomaces from different cultivars of Sicilian Vitis
vinifera L.

Ruberto G, Renda A, Amico V, Tringali C.

Istituto del C.N.R. di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via del Santuario 110, I/​95028
Valverde, CT, Italy.

The volatile components of grape pomace coming from the processing of some of
the most important varieties of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivated in Sicily,
namely Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Frappato and Cabernet Sauvignon, have
been determined by gas/​chromatography (GC) and gas/​chromatography/​mass
spectrometry (GC/​MS). According to the winemaking procedure that entails the
removal of stalks before fermentation, two kinds of grape pomace are obtained.
The first consists of skins, pulp residues and seeds, the proper grape pomace,
which is partially used for grappa, a typical Italian spirit, and alcohol
production, the second consists almost exclusively of stalks. On the whole, 38
components have been characterized in the samples of grape pomaces, with
Frappato cv. showing the richest composition; instead, 88 components have been
detected in the stalks of Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese and Cabernet
Sauvignon varieties. In order to make a comparison between the grape varieties
easier, the volatile components detected in the two sets of samples (grape
pomaces and stalks) have been grouped in different classes. Significant
differences among varieties have been detected and statistical treatment of data
is also reported. This study is part of a wider project aimed at the possible
exploitation of the main agro/​industrial by/​products. At the same time it is one
of the first reports on the volatile components of this waste material.

PMID: 17321134 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

3: Plant J. 2007 Mar;49(5):772/​85.

White grapes arose through the mutation of two similar and adjacent regulatory
genes.

Walker AR, Lee E, Bogs J, McDavid DA, Thomas MR, Robinson SP.

CSIRO Plant Industry, Adelaide Laboratory, PO Box 350, Glen Osmond, SA 5064,
Australia.

Most of the thousands of grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) can be divided
into two groups, red and white, based on the presence or absence of anthocyanin
in the berry skin, which has been found from genetic experiments to be
controlled by a single locus. A regulatory gene, VvMYBA1, which could activate
anthocyanin biosynthesis in a transient assay, was recently shown not to be
transcribed in white berries due to the presence of a retrotransposon in the
promoter. We have found that the berry colour locus comprises two very similar
genes, VvMYBA1 and VvMYBA2, located on a single bacterial artificial chromosome.
Either gene can regulate colour in the grape berry. The white berry allele of
VvMYBA2 is inactivated by two non/​conservative mutations, one leads to an amino
acid substitution and the other to a frame shift resulting in a smaller protein.
Transient assays showed that either mutation removed the ability of the
regulator to switch on anthocyanin biosynthesis. VvMYBA2 sequence analyses,
together with marker information, confirmed that 55 white cultivars all contain
the white berry allele, but not red berry alleles. These results suggest that
all extant white cultivars of grape vines have a common origin. We conclude that
rare mutational events occurring in two adjacent genes were essential for the
genesis of the white grapes used to produce the white wines and white table
grapes we enjoy today.

PMID: 17316172 [PubMed /​ in process]

4: Int J Food Microbiol. 2007 Jan 16; [Epub ahead of print]

Formation of vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins by selected yeasts fermenting red
grape musts supplemented with hydroxycinnamic acids.

Morata A, Gonzalez C, Suarez/​Lepe JA.

Dpto. Tecnologia de Alimentos, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros Agronomos,
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria S/N, 28040 Madrid,
Spain.

The aim of this work was to study the formation of vinylphenolic pyroanthocyanin
pigments by three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and one strain each of
Saccharomyces uvarum and Saccharomyces montuliensis during the fermentation of
red grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo) must containing additional
hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid or p/​coumaric acid, 50 mg/l).
These pigments were identified and quantified by high pressure liquid
chromatography/​diode array detection, their structures confirmed by liquid
chromatography/electrospray interface/​mass spectrometry, and their mechanisms of
formation proposed. Depending on the yeast strain employed, different quantities
of these pigments were formed. These pigments affect the colour of the finished
wine, sometimes greatly intensifying it.

PMID: 17303275 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

5: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1604/​1611.

The Fate of trans/​Caftaric Acid Administered into the Rat Stomach.

Vanzo A, Cecotti R, Vrhovsek U, Torres AM, Mattivi F, Passamonti S.

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova 17, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia,
Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Chimica delle Macromolecole, Universita
di Trieste, via L. Giorgeri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy, Agrifood Quality
Department, IASMA Research Center, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige,
Italy, and Area Farmacologia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquimicas y Farmaceuticas,
Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina.

trans/​Caftaric acid is the most abundant nonflavonoid phenolic compound in
grapes and wines. It occurs in chicory and is one of the bioactive components of
Echinacea purpurea. In order to fill the gap of knowledge about its
bioavailability in mammals, we investigated its absorption, tissue distribution,
and metabolism in rats. Assuming that the stomach is a relevant site of
absorption of dietary polyphenols, a solution of trans/​caftaric acid was
maintained in the ligated stomach of anaesthetized rats for 20 min. Intact
trans/​caftaric acid was detected in rat plasma at both 10 and 20 min (293 +//​ 45
and 334 +//​ 49 ng/mL, respectively), along with its O/​methylated derivative
trans/​fertaric acid, whose concentration rose over time (from 92 +//​ 12 to 185
+//​ 24 ng/mL). At 20 min, both trans/​caftaric acid and trans/​fertaric acid were
detected in the kidney (443 +//​ 78 and 2506 +//​ 514 ng/g, respectively) but not
in the liver. Only trans/​fertaric acid was found in the urine (33.3 +//​ 12.8
mug/mL). In some rats, trans/​caftaric acid was detected in the brain (180 +//​ 20
ng/g). Keywords: Trans/​caftaric acid; Vitis vinifera; Cichorium intybus;
Echinacea purpurea; gastric absorption; peripheral tissues; metabolism; rat.

PMID: 17300159 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

6: Biotechnol Lett. 2007 Feb 13; [Epub ahead of print]

Production of a recombinant carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase from grape and
enzyme assay in water/​miscible organic solvents.

Mathieu S, Bigey F, Procureur J, Terrier N, Gunata Z.

UMR IR2B, ENSAM/​INRA, Universite Montpellier II, 34060, Montpellier cedex 1,
France, gunata@univ/​montp2.fr.

A recombinant carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase from Vitis vinifera L. was
produced by Escherichia coli as a fusion with the glutathione/​S/​transferase
(GST) protein under different bacterial growth conditions. The enzyme production
was monitored by a GST assay. Addition of Triton X/​100 prior to bacterial cell
disruption doubled the release of soluble protein. A simple spectrophotometric
enzyme assay was developed to measure carotenoid cleavage activity using lutein
as substrate. Enzyme activity showed a 26/​fold increase with the addition of 10%
(v/v) acetone in the reaction mixture.

PMID: 17295086 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

7: New Phytol. 2007;173(4):832/​40.

Stomatal deregulation in Plasmopara viticola/​infected grapevine leaves.

Allegre M, Daire X, Heloir MC, Trouvelot S, Mercier L, Adrian M, Pugin A.

UMR Plant Microbe Environnement INRA1088/​CNRS 5184, Universite de Bourgogne, 17,
rue Sully, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon, France.

* In grapevine, the penetration and sporulation of Plasmopara viticola occur via
stomata, suggesting functional relationships between guard cells and the
pathogen. This assumption was supported by our first observation that grapevine
(Vitis vinifera cv. Marselan) cuttings infected by P. viticola wilted more
rapidly than healthy ones when submitted to water starvation. * Here,
complementary approaches measuring stomatal conductance and infrared
thermographic and microscopic observations were used to investigate stomatal
opening/closure in response to infection. * In infected leaves, stomata remained
open in darkness and during water stress, leading to increased transpiration.
This deregulation was restricted to the colonized area, was not systemic and
occurred before the appearance of symptoms. Cytological observations indicated
that stomatal lock/​open was not related to mechanical forces resulting from the
presence of the pathogen in the substomatal cavity. In contrast to healthy
leaves, stomatal closure in excised infected leaves could not be induced by a
water deficit or abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. However, ABA induced stomatal
closure in epidermal peels from infected leaves, indicating that guard cells
remained functional. * These data indicate that the oomycete deregulates guard
cell functioning, causing significant water losses. This effect could be
attributed to a nonsystemic compound, produced by the oomycete or by the
infected plant, which inhibits stomatal closure or induces stomatal opening; or
a reduction of the back/​pressure exerted by surrounding epidermal cells. Both
hypotheses are under investigation.

PMID: 17286831 [PubMed /​ in process]

8: Plant J. 2007 Feb;49(4):579/​91. Epub 2007 Jan 18.

Mesocarp localization of a bi/​functional resveratrol/hydroxycinnamic acid
glucosyltransferase of Concord grape (Vitis labrusca).

Hall D, De Luca V.

Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St
Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2S 3A1.

Resveratrol is a stilbene with well/​known health/​promoting effects in humans
that is produced constitutively or accumulates as a phytoalexin in several plant
species including grape (Vitis sp.). Grape berries accumulate stilbenes in the
exocarp as cis/​ and trans/​isomers of resveratrol, together with their respective
3/​O/​monoglucosides. An enzyme glucosylating cis/​ and trans/​resveratrol was
purified to apparent homogeneity from Concord (Vitis labrusca) grape berries,
and peptide sequencing associated it to an uncharacterized Vitis vinifera
full/​length clone (TC38971, tigr database). A corresponding gene from Vitis
labrusca (VLRSgt) had 98% sequence identity to clone TC38971 and 92% sequence
identity to a Vitis viniferap/​hydroxybenzoic acid glucosyltransferase that
produces glucose esters. The recombinant enzyme was active over a broad pH range
(5.5/​10), producing glucosides of stilbenes, flavonoids and coumarins at higher
pH and glucose esters of several hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids at low
pH. Vitis labrusca grape berries accumulated both stilbene glucosides and
hydroxycinnamic acid glucose esters, consistent with the bi/​functional role of
VLRSgt in stilbene and hydroxycinnamic acid modification. While phylogenetic
analysis of VLRSgt and other functionally characterized glucosyltransferases
places it with other glucose ester/​producing enzymes, the present results
indicate broader biochemical activities for this class of enzymes.

PMID: 17270014 [PubMed /​ in process]

9: Plant Mol Biol. 2007 Feb;63(3):307/​23. Epub 2006 Oct 12.

Identification of genes associated with flesh morphogenesis during grapevine
fruit development.

Fernandez L, Torregrosa L, Terrier N, Sreekantan L, Grimplet J, Davies C, Thomas
MR, Romieu C, Ageorges A.

UMR BEPC, Campus Agro/​M/INRA, 2 place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, Cedex 01,
France.

Fruit morphogenesis is a process unique to the angiosperms, and yet little is
known about its developmental control. Following fertilization, fruits typically
undergo a dramatic enlargement that is accompanied by differentiation of
numerous distinct cell types. To identify genes putatively involved in the early
development of grapevine fruit, we used the fleshless berry mutant (Vitis
vinifera L. cv Ugni Blanc) that has dramatically reduced fruit size due to a
lack of pericarp development. Using oligo/​specific arrays, 53 and 50 genes were
identified as being down/​ and up/​regulated, respectively, in the mutant. In
parallel, Suppression Subtractive Hybridization performed between the mutant and
the wild type (WT) allowed the identification of new transcripts differentially
expressed during the first stages of mutant and WT pericarp development. From
this data, the picture emerged that the mutation promotes the expression of
several genes related to ripening and/or to stress and impairs the expression of
several regulatory genes. Among those, five genes encoding proteins previously
reported to be associated with, or involved in, developmental processes in other
species (a specific tissue protein 2, ATHB13, a BURP domain protein, PISTILLATA,
and YABBY2), were identified and investigated further using real/​time PCR and in
situ hybridization. Expression in the pericarp was confirmed, specific spatial
and/or temporal patterns were detected and differences were observed between the
WT and the mutant during fruit development. Expression of these genes appeared
to be affected during young fruit development in the mutant, suggesting that
they may play a role in grape berry morphogenesis.

PMID: 17268889 [PubMed /​ in process]

10: J Food Prot. 2007 Jan;70(1):157/​63.

Effect of chemical treatments on ochratoxigenic fungi and common mycobiota of
grapes (Vitis vinifera).

Belli N, Marin S, Argiles E, Ramos AJ, Sanchis V.

Food Technology Department, CeRTA/​UTPV, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira
Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

The effect of the application of two fungicides (cyprodinil alone and a mixture
of cyprodinil and fludioxonil) on the mycoflora of grapes, especially
ochratoxigenic fungi, was studied. Different doses and application times were
analyzed. Grape mycobiota was isolated and identified, and the classification of
black aspergilli was carried out. We found that 81.7% of the isolates belonged
to Aspergillus niger aggregate and 18.3% to Aspergillus carbonarius. The ability
to produce ochratoxin A (OTA) was studied on Czapek yeast extract agar (CYA)
medium in 238 isolates. Most A. carbonarius (97.2%) produced detectable amounts
of OTA, while only 2.9% of the A. niger aggregate were OTA producers. Most of
the isolates (58%) produced less than 2.5 microg OTA per g of CYA. That,
together with the highest levels of black aspergilli detected near harvest,
proved the reported theory that they are primarily responsible for OTA in
grapes. The fungicides studied had a significant effect on black aspergilli in
three of the four vineyards sampled, as the natural increase of black aspergilli
when approaching harvest was in general lower in all the fields treated with
fungicides as compared to the control treatment. A mixture of cyprodinil (37.5%)
and fludioxonil (25%) applied at veraison and 21 days before harvest was the
most effective treatment to prevent black aspergilli in grapes, together with a
single application of this mixture at veraison followed by an application of
cyprodinil (50%) 21 days before harvest. No OTA was detected in musts (n=112)
produced from either the control treatment or the treated grapes.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17265875 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

11: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 7;55(3):992/​1002.

Flavonol profiles of Vitis vinifera red grapes and their single/​cultivar wines.

Castillo/​Munoz N, Gomez/​Alonso S, Garcia/​Romero E, Hermosin/​Gutierrez I.

Area de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Escuela Universitaria de Ingenieria Tecnica
Agricola, Ronda de Calatrava 7, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.

The main flavonols found in seven widespread Vitis vinifera red grape cultivars
include the 3/​glucosides and 3/​glucuronides of myricetin and quercetin and the
3/​glucosides of kaempferol and isorhamnetin. In addition, the methoxylated
trisubstituted flavonols, laricitrin and syringetin, were predominantly found as
3/​glucosides. As minority flavonols, the results suggest the detection of the
3/​galactosides of kaempferol and laricitrin, the 3/​glucuronide of kaempferol,
and the 3/​(6' '/​acetyl)glucosides of quercetin and syringetin. The flavonol
profiles based on the eight above/​mentioned flavonols allowed the cultivar
differentiation of the grape samples. With regard to flavonol biosynthesis in
the berry skin, quercetin 3/​glucuronide predominated at veraison, followed by
quercetin 3/​glucoside, and only trace amounts of trisubstituted flavonols were
detected. The proportion of quercetin 3/​glucoside remained almost constant
during berry ripening, whereas the proportion of quercetin 3/​glucuronide
decreased and the other flavonols, especially myricetin 3/​glucoside, increased
their importance. In wines, flavonol 3/​glycosides coexisted with their
corresponding free aglycones released by hydrolysis. The presence of laricitrin,
syringetin, and laricitrin 3/​glucoside in red wines is reported here for the
first time. The extent of hydrolysis was widely variable among wines made from
the same grape cultivar, and the results suggest the influence of the type of
aglycone and glycoside on the rate of hydrolysis. Due to hydrolysis, the
differentiation of single/​cultivar wines gave acceptable results only when
aglycone/​type flavonol profiles were used.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17263504 [PubMed /​ in process]

12: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 7;55(3):779/​86.

Effect of soil type on wines produced from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Grenache in
commercial vineyards.

de Andres/​de Prado R, Yuste/​Rojas M, Sort X, Andres/​Lacueva C, Torres M,
Lamuela/​Raventos RM.

Bodegas Miguel Torres, Miquel Torres i Carbo 6, 08720 Vilafranca del Penedes,
Barcelona, Spain.

In recent years, the wine industry has become increasingly interested in the
influence of the terroir characteristics on the features of a wine and, in
particular, the mechanisms by which a soil influences wine quality. Among
published papers on this topic, most merely describe the effect of the soil; few
explain it. In this study were conducted a sensory evaluation and phenolic
composition and stilbene concentration tests in order to analyze the effects of
soil on wine. Significant differences were found in the results of the tests
conducted on two vineyards during two consecutive harvests in 2004 and 2005. The
results, in line with previous reports, show that the more fertile of the two
vineyards, which was also the one with the greatest water/​holding capacity,
produced wines that presented significantly lower color intensity and shade, as
well as lower total phenolic composition and a smaller quantity of
hydroxycinnamic compounds. In 2004, these wines presented significantly higher
trans/​resveratrol content, due to a fungal attack that was favored by the
vineyard's soil characteristics. Extreme drought conditions in 2005 had a marked
impact on the characteristics of the wines, increasing wavelength measurements
significantly and reducing stilbene concentrations. Finally, sensory evaluations
revealed significant differences between the wines produced on the two vineyards
in both years for five of the seven attributes evaluated. No significant
differences were found from one year to the next between the wines produced from
the same vineyard, indicating that the attributes of these wines were maintained
despite markedly different vintage conditions.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17263474 [PubMed /​ in process]

13: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1053/​1061. Epub 2007 Jan 30.

Assessment of Anthocyanins in Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Berries Using a
Noninvasive Chlorophyll Fluorescence Method.

Agati G, Meyer S, Matteini P, Cerovic ZG.

Istituto di Fisica Applicata 'Nello Carrara', CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10
(Edificio C), I/​50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and Equipe de Biospectroscopie
Vegetale, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Systematique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079, Bat.
362, Universite Paris/​Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.

Anthocyanins (Anths) in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries harvested at veraison
from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier cultivars were assessed nondestructively by
measuring chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) excitation spectra. With increasing
Anth content, less excitation light was transmitted to the deeper Chl layers,
and thus the ChlF signal decreased proportionally. By applying Beer/​Lambert's
law, the logarithm of the ratio between the fluorescence excitation spectra (log
FER) from a green and a red berry gave the in vivo absorption spectrum of Anths,
which peaked at about 540 nm. Absolute quantitative nondestructive determination
of Anths for each berry was obtained by the log FER calculated for two
excitation wavelengths, 540 and 635 nm (absorbed and not/​absorbed by Anths,
respectively) of ChlF at 685 nm. Over a range of skin colors going from green to
purple, the relationship between the log [ChlF(635)/ChlF(540)] and the Anth
concentration of berry extracts was fairly well fitted (r 2 = 0.92) using a
power function. Reflectance spectra on the same berry samples were also
measured, and Anth reflectance indices, which were originally developed for
apples and table grapes, were derived. The log FER Anth index was superior to
the reflectance/​ratio/​based index, but was as good as the color index for red
grapes (CIRG) calculated from the whole visible reflectance spectrum. The
proposed log FER method, applied by means of suitable portable devices, may
represent a new, rapid, and noninvasive tool for the assessment of grape
phenolic maturity in vineyards. Keywords: Anthocyanins; chlorophyll
fluorescence; color index; grape berry; fluorescence excitation spectra;
nondestructive determination; reflectance; ripening; Vitis vinifera.

PMID: 17261018 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

14: Theor Appl Genet. 2007 Feb;114(4):723/​30. Epub 2007 Jan 13.

Wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) color associates with allelic variation in the
domestication gene VvmybA1.

This P, Lacombe T, Cadle/​Davidson M, Owens CL.

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Centre de Montpellier, UMR,
Diversite et Genomes des Plantes Cultivees, Montpellier, France.

During the process of crop domestication and early selection, numerous changes
occur in the genetic and physiological make/​up of crop plants. In grapevine
(Vitis vinifera) numerous changes have occurred as a result of human selection,
including the emergence of hermaphroditism and greatly increased variation in
berry color. This report examines the effect of human selection on variable skin
color by examining the variation present in the gene VvmybA1, a transcriptional
regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. In over 200 accessions of V. vinifera,
the insertion of the retroelement Gret1 in the promoter region of VvmybA1 was in
strong association with the white/​fruited phenotype. This retroelement was
inserted at the same location for each individual in which it was present.
Additional polymorphisms in the VvmybA1 gene were also strongly associated with
red or pink fruited accessions, including variation that was generated by the
excision of Gret1 from the promoter of VvmybA1. Differences in nucleotide
diversity were observed between the white and pigmented alleles of VvmybA1,
suggesting that the white allele arose only once or a limited number of times.
Rarely, association of Gret1 with the white fruited phenotype was not observed,
suggesting that the white phenotype can also be obtained through mutation in
additional genes. These results provide evidence that variation in one
transcriptional regulator has generated an allelic series strongly associated
with fruit color variation in cultivated grapevine. These findings provide
information about the evolution of grapes since domestication and have direct
implications for the regulation of fruit and wine quality of this important crop
plant.

PMID: 17221259 [PubMed /​ in process]

15: Plant Physiol. 2007 Jan 5; [Epub ahead of print]

The Grapevine Transcription Factor VvMYBPA1 regulates Proanthocyanidin Synthesis
during Fruit Development.

Bogs J, Jaffe FW, Takos AM, Walker AR, Robinson SP.

CSIRO Plant Industry, PO Box 350, Glen Osmond, 5064, Australia; CRC for
Viticulture, PO Box 154, Glen Osmond, 5064, Australia; Heidelberger Institut fur
Pflanzenwissenschaften, Im Neuenheimer Feld 360, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs or condensed tannins) can protect plants against
herbivores, contribute to the taste of many fruits and act as dietary
antioxidants beneficial for human health. We have previously shown that in
grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) PA synthesis involves both leucoanthocyanidin
reductase (LAR) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR). Here we report the
characterization of a grapevine MYB transcription factor VvMYBPA1, which
controls expression of PA pathway genes including both LAR and ANR. Expression
of VvMYBPA1 in grape berries correlated with PA accumulation during early berry
development and in seeds. In a transient assay, VvMYBPA1 activated the promoters
of LAR and ANR, as well as the promoters of several of the general flavonoid
pathway genes. VvMYBPA1 did not activate the promoter of VvUFGT which encodes
the anthocyanin specific enzyme UDP glucose:flavonoid/​3/​O/​glucosyltransferase,
suggesting VvMYBPA1 is specific to regulation of PA biosynthesis in grapes. The
Arabidopsis MYB transcription factor TT2 (TRANSPARENT TESTA2) regulates PA
synthesis in the seed coat of Arabidopsis. By complementing the PA/​deficient
seed phenotype of the Arabidopsis tt2 mutant with VvMYBPA1, we confirmed the
function of VvMYBPA1 as a transcriptional regulator of PA synthesis. In contrast
to ectopic expression of TT2 in Arabidopsis, constitutive expression of VvMYBPA1
resulted in accumulation of PAs in cotyledons, vegetative meristems, leaf hairs
and roots in some of the transgenic seedlings. This is the first report of a MYB
factor that controls genes of the PA pathway in fruit, including both LAR and
ANR, and this single MYB factor can induce ectopic PA accumulation in
Arabidopsis.

PMID: 17208963 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

16: Ann Bot (Lond). 2007 Jan 4; [Epub ahead of print]

Quantitative Analysis of the Phenotypic Variability of Shoot Architecture in Two
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) Cultivars.

Louarn G, Guedon Y, Lecoeur J, Lebon E.

INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, UMR759 LEPSE, 2 place Viala, F/​34060 Montpellier,
France.

Background and Aims Plant architecture and its interaction with agronomic
practices and environmental constraints are determinants of the structure of the
canopy, which is involved in carbon acquisition and fruit quality development. A
framework for the quantitative analysis of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) shoot
architecture, based on a set of topological and geometrical parameters, was
developed for the identification of differences between cultivars and the
origins of phenotypic variability. Methods Two commercial cultivars ('Grenache
N', 'Syrah') with different shoot architectures were grown in pots, in
well/​irrigated conditions. Shoot topology was analysed, using a hidden
semi/​Markov chain and variable/​order Markov chains to identify deviations from
the normal pattern of succession of phytomer types (P0/​P1/​P2), together with
kinematic analysis of shoot axis development. Shoot geometry was characterized
by final internode and individual leaf area measurements. Key Results Shoot
architecture differed significantly between cultivars. Secondary leaf area and
axis length were greater for 'Syrah'. Secondary leaf area distribution along the
main axis also differed between cultivars, with secondary leaves preferentially
located towards the basal part of the shoot in 'Syrah'. The main factors leading
to differences in leaf area between the cultivars were: (a) slight differences
in main shoot structure, with the supplementary P0 phytomer on the lower part of
the shoot in 'Grenache N', which bears a short branch; and (b) an higher rate
and duration of development of branches bearing by P1/​P2 phytomers related to P0
ones at the bottom of the shoot in 'Syrah'. Differences in axis length were
accounted for principally by differences in individual internode morphology,
with 'Syrah' having significantly longer internodes. This trait, together with a
smaller shoot diameter, may account for the characteristic 'droopy' habit of
'Syrah' shoots. Conclusions This study highlights the architectural parameters
involved in the phenotypic variability of shoot architecture in two grapevine
cultivars. Differences in primary shoot structure and in branch development
potential accounted for the main differences in leaf area distribution between
the two cultivars. By contrast, shoot shape seemed to be controlled by
differences in axis length due principally to differences in internode length.

PMID: 17204533 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

17: J Chromatogr A. 2006 Dec 29; [Epub ahead of print]

Headspace/​solid phase microextraction/​gas chromatography as a tool to define an
index that establishes the retention capacity of the wine polymeric fraction
towards ethyl esters.

Rocha SM, Coutinho P, Delgadillo I, Coimbra MA.

Departamento de Quimica, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810/​193 Aveiro, Portugal.

A headspace/​solid phase microextraction followed by gas chromatographic analysis
(HS/​SPME/​GC) was developed to be applied in the study of the interactions
between the wine polymeric fraction and the ethyl esters: ethyl hexanoate, ethyl
octanoate, and ethyl decanoate. Wine models (WM) were prepared with 10% (v/v)
aqueous ethanol at pH 3.5 with distinct wine polymeric concentrations prepared
from white wine of Vitis vinifera L. var. Fernao/​Pires: 1.0gL(/​1) (PWM(1)), with
a polymeric concentration approaching the real one in wine; 10.0gL(/​1)
(PWM(10)); and 30.0gL(/​1) (PWM(30)), saturated with polymeric fraction. A
reference wine model (RWM) was prepared without polymeric fraction. Each
volatile compound (4.0mgL(/​1)) was added separately to the RWM and to the WM
with the three levels of polymeric material (PWM). From the retention index (RI)
calculated for each compound using the formula: [RI=1/​(C(RWM)/​C(PWM))/C(RWM)],
where C(RWM) is the concentration of the compound in the RWM and C(PWM) is the
concentration of the compound in the given PWM, the retention capacity of each
wine polymeric fraction towards the three esters was established. The higher
retention indexes were observed for ethyl decanoate, the more hydrophobic
compound, and for the PWM with higher concentration. Furthermore, this study
also suggested that the retained compounds are dosed to the headspace, which may
promote the perception of their aroma for a longer period of time.

PMID: 17196969 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

18: Plant Physiol. 2007 Feb;143(2):1024/​36. Epub 2006 Dec 22.

Xylella fastidiosa Infection and Ethylene Exposure Result in Xylem and Water
Movement Disruption in Grapevine Shoots.

Perez/​Donoso AG, Greve LC, Walton JH, Shackel KA, Labavitch JM.

Department of Plant Sciences , University of California, Davis, California
95616.

It is conventionally thought that multiplication of the xylem/​limited bacterium
Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) within xylem vessels is the sole factor responsible for
the blockage of water movement in grapevines (Vitis vinifera) affected by
Pierce's disease. However, results from our studies have provided substantial
support for the idea that vessel obstructions, and likely other aspects of the
Pierce's disease syndrome, result from the grapevine's active responses to the
presence of Xf, rather than to the direct action of the bacterium. The use of
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe the distribution of water within the
xylem has allowed us to follow nondestructively the development of vascular
system obstructions subsequent to inoculation of grapevines with Xf. Because we
have hypothesized a role for ethylene produced in vines following infection, the
impact of vine ethylene exposure on obstruction development was also followed
using MRI. In both infected and ethylene/​exposed plants, MRI shows that an
important proportion of the xylem vessels become progressively air embolized
after the treatments. The loss of xylem water/​transporting function, assessed by
MRI, has been also correlated with a decrease in stem/​specific hydraulic
conductivity (K(S)) and the presence of tyloses in the lumens of obstructed
water conduits. We have observed that the ethylene production of leaves from
infected grapevines is greater than that from healthy vines and, therefore,
propose that ethylene may be involved in a series of cellular events that
coordinates the vine's response to the pathogen.

PMID: 17189331 [PubMed /​ in process]

19: Chemosphere. 2007 Apr;67(6):1243/​51. Epub 2006 Dec 20.

Effect of the herbicide flumioxazin on photosynthetic performance of grapevine
(Vitis vinifera L.).

Bigot A, Fontaine F, Clement C, Vaillant/​Gaveau N.

Laboratoire de Stress, Defenses et Reproduction des Plantes, URVVC EA 2069,
Universite de Reims Champagne/​Ardenne, UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles,
Batiment 18, Moulin de la Housse /​ BP 1039, F/​51687 Reims Cedex 2, France.

Among the herbicides used in vineyards, the pre/​emergence soil/​applied
flumioxazin (fmx) is a recently used molecule that inhibits chlorophyll
biosynthesis in weed species. The aim of this work is to further characterize
the effects of fmx on the non/​target grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv.
Chardonnay) using cutting as a model. Several photosynthesis parameters were
estimated during 25 days after treatment with various fmx concentrations (from
0.5mM to 50mM). Measuring chlorophyll fluorescence it appeared that fmx or a
by/​product penetrated the plant throughout roots and spread throughout vessels.
Besides the initial target, protox, fmx affected other functions related to
photosynthesis. Fmx induced a simultaneous drop of both P(n), g(s) and T. Fmx
caused stomatal closure, which partially explains the decrease of the net
photosynthesis. The decline in F(v)/F(m) indicates that the photochemistry of
PSII and its ability to reduce the primary acceptor Q(A) are also affected by
fmx in grapevine. Fmx leads to a decrease in the coefficients of both
photochemical and non/​photochemical quenching. Simultaneous stomatal closure and
decrease in the quantum yield of CO(2) assimilation indicate a change in energy
metabolism following fmx stress. After ten days of fmx treatment, analyses of
the response of net carbon assimilation in leaves to different intercellular
CO(2) concentrations have shown a decrease of the maximum carboxylation velocity
of RuBP. Stomatal closure, PSII photochemistry, change in energy metabolism and
RuBP activity were affected by fmx treatment.

PMID: 17184818 [PubMed /​ in process]

20: Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2006 Nov;77(5):665/​70.

Lead, mercury, and nickel in grapevine, Vitis vinifera L., in polluted and
nonpolluted regions.

Todic S, Beslic Z, Lakic N, Tesic D.

University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Zemun, Serbia and Montenegro.

PMID: 17176992 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

21: Plant Biotechnol J. 2005 Jan;3(1):57/​69.

Antioxidant metabolite profiles in tomato fruit constitutively expressing the
grapevine stilbene synthase gene.

Giovinazzo G, d'Amico L, Paradiso A, Bollini R, Sparvoli F, Degara L.

Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari/​CNR, via Prov. Lecce/​Monteroni,
73100 Lecce, Italy.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) tissues were transformed with a grape
(Vitis vinifera L.) stilbene synthase cDNA, transcriptionally regulated by the
cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Transgenic plants accumulated new
compounds, not present in either wild/​type or vector/​transformed plants. These
were identified, by high/​pressure liquid chromatography, as trans/​resveratrol
and trans/​resveratrol/​glucopyranoside. The amounts of trans/​resveratrol and its
piceid form were evaluated in the transgenic fruit. It was found that the
content of the metabolite varied during fruit maturation to up to 53 microg/g
fresh weight of total trans/​resveratrol at the red stage of ripening. This
metabolite accumulation was possibly dependent on a combination of sufficiently
high levels of stilbene synthase and the availability of substrates. With the
aim of verifing the metabolic impairment, the amounts of chlorogenic acid and
naringenin in both transgenic and wild/​type ripening fruit were compared and no
dramatic variation in the synthesis profile of the two metabolites was noted. To
our knowledge, no data are available on the assessment of the effects of the
expression of the StSy gene on other antioxidant compounds present in tomato
fruit. To establish whether the presence of a novel antioxidant molecule
affected the redox regulation in transgenic tomato fruit cells, the effect of
resveratrol accumulation on the naturally present antioxidant pool was analysed.
We showed that, in transgenic fruit which accumulate trans/​resveratrol, there is
an increase in the levels of ascorbate and glutathione, the soluble antioxidants
of primary metabolism, as well as in the total antioxidant activity. Conversely,
the content of tocopherol and lycopene, which are membrane/​located antioxidants,
is not affected. Consistent with the increased antioxidant properties, the lipid
peroxidation was lower in transformed than in wild/​type fruit.

PMID: 17168899 [PubMed /​ in process]

22: Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao. 2006 Nov;22(6):984/​9.

[Impact of subculture cycles and inoculum sizes on suspension cultures of Vitis
vinifera]

[Article in Chinese]

Qu JG, Zhang W, Hu QL, Jin MF.

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian
116023, China.

The commercial application of plant cell cultures is often hindered by the
instability of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, where the metabolite yield
fluctuates and decline dramatically over subcultures. This study proposed that
such instability is due to the fluctuations of culture variables. To validate
this hypothesis, the effects of the fluctuations of two culture variables
(subculture cycle and inoculum size) on the biomass, anthocyanin biosynthesig,
intracellular carbon, nitrogen and phosphate during continuous 10 subculture
cycles were investigated. The subculture cycle was fluctuated for 12h in a 7 day
cycle (6.5, 7 and 7.5 d), and the inoculum size was fluctuated by 20% on basis
of 2.00 g (1.60, 2.00 and 2.40 g). It was found that all the measured culture
parameters fluctuated over the 10 subculture cycles. The fluctuation in terms of
inoculum sizes had a greater effect on the stability of anthocyanin biosynthesis
in suspension cultures of V. vinifera. Among all the subculture conditions
investigated, 7d/​subculture cycle and 1.60 g/​inoculum size was the best one to
hold the relatively stable anthocyanin production. The anthocyanin yield
presented a negative correlation with intracellular sucrose content or
intracellular total phosphate content.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17168324 [PubMed /​ in process]

23: Plant Mol Biol. 2007 Mar;63(5):637/​50. Epub 2006 Dec 10.

The FT/TFL1 gene family in grapevine.

Carmona MJ, Calonje M, Martinez/​Zapater JM.

Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros Agronomos,
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain,
mariajose.carmona@upm.es.

The FT/TFL1 gene family encodes proteins with similarity to
phosphatidylethanolamine binding proteins which function as flowering promoters
and repressors. We show here that the FT/TFL1 gene family in Vitis vinifera is
composed of at least five genes. Sequence comparisons with homologous genes
identified in other dicot species group them in three major clades, the FT, MFT
and TFL1 subfamilies, the latter including three of the Vitis sequences. Gene
expression patterns are in agreement with a role of VvFT and VvMFT as flowering
promoters; while VvTFL1A, VvTFL1B and VvTFL1C could be associated with
vegetative development and maintenance of meristem indetermination.
Overexpression of VvFT in transgenic Arabidopsis plants generates early
flowering phenotypes similar to those produced by FT supporting a role for this
gene in flowering promotion. Overexpression of VvTFL1A does not affect flowering
time but the determination of flower meristems, strongly altering inflorescence
structure, which is consistent with the biological roles assigned to similar
genes in other species.

PMID: 17160562 [PubMed /​ in process]

24: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 13;54(25):9465/​71.

Composition and cellular localization of tannins in Cabernet Sauvignon skins
during growth.

Gagne S, Saucier C, Geny L.

Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Physiologie de la Vigne and Laboratoire de Chimie
Appliquee, UMR 1219 Oenologie/​Ampelologie, Faculte d'Oenologie/​Universite Victor
Segalen, Bordeaux 2/INRA/ENITA, Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin,
Talence, France.

For two successive years, cell walls were isolated from the internal part of
skin cells of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grape berries grown in a
vineyard. Procyanidin localization and composition were determined over the
course of development. Tannins were mainly localized in the inner cell fraction,
due to their biosynthesis and storage. Cell wall tannins always exhibited a
higher mean degree of polymerization as compared to the internal cell fraction,
which had a constant mDP. The mDP of cell wall tannins also tended to increase
at the end of maturation. Our results suggest tannin polymerization near the
cell wall but an aggregation in the vacuole during growth. The tannin
composition was typical of skins, and small differences were noted between the
two cell parts. Surprisingly, epigallocatechin/​3/​gallate was also detected,
although in a very small amount. Epicatechin was present in significant
proportions in both fractions, especially as an extension subunit, while
epigallocatechin was likewise abundant, also as a terminal subunit. Last,
procyanidin composition and organization seemed to be characteristic of the
Cabernet Sauvignon variety.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17147434 [PubMed /​ in process]

25: Funct Integr Genomics. 2007 Apr;7(2):111/​34. Epub 2006 Nov 29.

Water and salinity stress in grapevines: early and late changes in transcript
and metabolite profiles.

Cramer GR, Ergul A, Grimplet J, Tillett RL, Tattersall EA, Bohlman MC, Vincent
D, Sonderegger J, Evans J, Osborne C, Quilici D, Schlauch KA, Schooley DA,
Cushman JC.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, MS200, University of Nevada,
Reno, NV, 89557/​0014, USA, cramer@unr.edu.

Grapes are grown in semiarid environments, where drought and salinity are common
problems. Microarray transcript profiling, quantitative reverse
transcription/​PCR, and metabolite profiling were used to define genes and
metabolic pathways in Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon with shared and
divergent responses to a gradually applied and long/​term (16 days) water/​deficit
stress and equivalent salinity stress. In this first/​of/​a/​kind study, distinct
differences between water deficit and salinity were revealed. Water deficit
caused more rapid and greater inhibition of shoot growth than did salinity at
equivalent stem water potentials. One of the earliest responses to water deficit
was an increase in the transcript abundance of RuBisCo activase (day 4), but
this increase occurred much later in salt/​stressed plants (day 12). As water
deficit progressed, a greater number of affected transcripts were involved in
metabolism, transport, and the biogenesis of cellular components than did
salinity. Salinity affected a higher percentage of transcripts involved in
transcription, protein synthesis, and protein fate than did water deficit.
Metabolite profiling revealed that there were higher concentrations of glucose,
malate, and proline in water/​deficit/​treated plants as compared to salinized
plants. The metabolite differences were linked to differences in transcript
abundance of many genes involved in energy metabolism and nitrogen assimilation,
particularly photosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, and photorespiration.
Water/​deficit/​treated plants appear to have a higher demand than salinized
plants to adjust osmotically, detoxify free radicals (reactive oxygen species),
and cope with photoinhibition.

PMID: 17136344 [PubMed /​ in process]

26: Antiviral Res. 2007 Mar;73(3):206/​11. Epub 2006 Nov 3.

Antiviral activity of tiazofurin and mycophenolic acid against Grapevine
Leafroll/​associated Virus 3 in Vitis vinifera explants.

Panattoni A, D'Anna F, Triolo E.

Department of Tree Science Entomology and Plant Pathology "G. Scaramuzzi",
University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.

The ability to control plant viral diseases with chemicals has great potential
value for agriculture, but few chemicals are available to date due to the
difficulty in obtaining effective drugs. IMP dehydrogenase is an enzyme which
catalyzes the conversion of inosine 5'/​monophosphate to xanthosine
5'/​monophosphate in the de novo purine nucleotide synthetic pathway, and is
considered a sensitive target for antiviral drugs. Two IMPDH inhibitors,
tiazofurin (TR) and mycophenolic acid (MPA), were tested for their inhibitory
effect on Grapevine leafroll/​associated virus 3 (GLRaV/​3) in in vitro grapevine
explants. TR administration produced plantlets characterized by negative ELISA
readings. No PCR products were obtained from these samples. This was confirmed
by the absence of viral particles. MPA was essentially ineffective against
GLRaV/​3 replication in Sangiovese explants. This is the first report of GLRaV/​3
eradication in grapevine explants following TR administration.

PMID: 17125850 [PubMed /​ in process]

27: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 29;54(24):9206/​15.

Anatomical, histological, and histochemical changes in grape seeds from Vitis
vinifera L. cv Cabernet franc during fruit development.

Cadot Y, Minana/​Castello MT, Chevalier M.

Grapevine and Wine Experimental Unit, National Institute for Agricultural
Research, Angers Research Centre, 42 rue George Morel, B.P. 60057, 49071
Beaucouze cedex, France. cadot@angers.inra.fr

Cabernet franc berries were sampled at five stages from berry set to harvest
from an experimental vineyard in mid Loire Valley. Seeds were collected from
representative berries in term of stage of development. The evolution of seed
was followed both macro/​ and microscopically. For microscopy analysis, seeds
were cut, put in a fixation solution, and cut into thin sections with a
microtome. Five staining solutions were used for each seed sample: toluidine
blue O, phloroglucinol, periodic acid/​Schiff's reagent and naphtol blue black,
vanillin, and p/​dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde. Toluidine blue O staining revealed
the evolution of tissue structures during grape seed development. We studied the
changes in chemical compounds (lignin, polysaccharides, proteins, and tannins)
with the other reagents. Seed lignification was achieved at veraison.
Proanthocyanidins were localized in epidermis, inner cells of the soft seed
coat, and inner cell layer of the inner integument. Finally, the localization of
flavan/​3/​ols was linked with changes in cell walls of the outer integument.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17117811 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

28: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 29;54(24):9119/​25.

Methyl jasmonate induces defense responses in grapevine and triggers protection
against Erysiphe necator.

Belhadj A, Saigne C, Telef N, Cluzet S, Bouscaut J, Corio/​Costet MF, Merillon
JM.

Laboratoire de Mycologie et Biotechnologie Vegetale, EA 3675, Universite Victor
Segalen Bordeaux 2, UFR Sciences Pharmaceutiques, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33076
Bordeaux Cedex, France.

Grapevine is subject to a number of diseases that affect yield and wine quality.
To limit the excessive use of phytochemicals in the vineyard, alternative
strategies have to be developed. Plant treatment with signaling molecules like
elicitors stimulates their natural defense mechanisms. To improve grapevine
tolerance against fungal pathogens, Vitis vinifera plants were treated with a
natural exogenous elicitor, methyl jasmonate (MeJA). MeJA/​treated leaves
(Cabernet Sauvignon foliar cuttings) reacted by increasing transcript levels
coding pathogenesis/​related proteins (acidic class IV chitinase, serine protease
inhibitor, polygalacturonase/​inhibiting protein, and beta/​1,3/​glucanase) and
coding enzymes involved in phytoalexin biosynthesis (one phenylalanine ammonia
lyase and one stilbene synthase). This was correlated with the accumulation of
stilbenes (antimicrobial compounds). The eliciting activity of MeJA was
confirmed by enhanced tolerance of grapevine foliar cuttings and vineyard
against powdery mildew (75% and 73%, respectively). On the basis of these
original results, MeJA can therefore act as an efficient elicitor in an
alternative strategy of grapevine protection.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17117799 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

29: Plant Physiol Biochem. 2006 Nov/​Dec;44(11/​12):724/​31. Epub 2006 Oct 27.

Accumulation of tocopherols and tocotrienols during seed development of grape
(Vitis vinifera L. cv. Albert Lavallee).

Horvath G, Wessjohann L, Bigirimana J, Monica H, Jansen M, Guisez Y, Caubergs R,
Horemans N.

Research Group of Plant Physiology, Department of Biology, University of
Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. gyorgy.horvath@ua.ac.be

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are present in mature seeds. Yet, little is known
about the physiological role and the metabolism of these compounds during seed
development. Here we present data on tocopherol and tocotrienol accumulation
during seed development in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Albert Lavallee (Royal). This
species was chosen for its ability to synthesize both tocopherols and
tocotrienols. It is shown here for the first time that during seed development
there are significant differences in localization and accumulation kinetics of
tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols are found homogeneously dispersed
throughout all tissues of the seed, in concentrations ranging from 20 to 100
microg tocopherol per g dry weight. Tocopherol levels decrease gradually during
seed development. In contrast, tocotrienols are only found in the endosperm of
the seeds, accumulating in a sigmoid fashion during the maturation period of
seed development. Tocotrienol levels were found to be (54+//​7.4) microg/g dry
seed in 90/​day/​old seeds of V. vinifera L. Furthermore, tocotrienol biosynthesis
is demonstrated in these seeds during tocotrienol accumulation and in an
endosperm fraction isolated at 75 days after flowering.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17110122 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

30: BMC Plant Biol. 2006 Nov 14;6:27.

An optimized grapevine RNA isolation procedure and statistical determination of
reference genes for real/​time RT/​PCR during berry development.

Reid KE, Olsson N, Schlosser J, Peng F, Lund ST.

Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver,
Canada. kereid@interchange.ubc.ca

BACKGROUND: Accuracy in quantitative real/​time RT/​PCR is dependent on high
quality RNA, consistent cDNA synthesis, and validated stable reference genes for
data normalization. Reference genes used for normalization impact the results
generated from expression studies and, hence, should be evaluated prior to use
across samples and treatments. Few statistically validated reference genes have
been reported in grapevine. Moreover, success in isolating high quality RNA from
grapevine tissues is typically limiting due to low pH, and high polyphenolic and
polysaccharide contents. RESULTS: We describe optimization of an RNA isolation
procedure that compensates for the low pH found in grape berries and improves
the ability of the RNA to precipitate. This procedure was tested on pericarp and
seed developmental series, as well as steady/​state leaf, root, and flower
tissues. Additionally, the expression stability of actin, AP47
(clathrin/​associated protein), cyclophilin, EF1/​alpha (elongation factor
1/​alpha), GAPDH (glyceraldehyde 3/​phosphate dehydrogenase), MDH (malate
dehydrogenase), PP2A (protein phosphatase), SAND, TIP41, alpha/​tubulin,
beta/​tubulin, UBC (ubiquitin conjugating enzyme), UBQ/​L40 (ubiquitin L40) and
UBQ10 (polyubiquitin) were evaluated on Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon
pericarp using three different statistical approaches. Although several of the
genes proved to be relatively stable, no single gene outperformed all other
genes in each of the three evaluation methods tested. Furthermore, the effect of
using one reference gene versus normalizing to the geometric mean of several
genes is presented for the expression of an aquaporin and a sucrose transporter
over a developmental series. CONCLUSION: In order to quantify relative
transcript abundances accurately using real/​time RT/​PCR, we recommend that
combinations of several genes be used for normalization in grape berry
development studies. Our data support GAPDH, actin, EF1/​alpha and SAND as the
most relevant reference genes for this purpose.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17105665 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

31: Transgenic Res. 2006 Nov 14; [Epub ahead of print]

Silencing of chaperonin 21, that was differentially expressed in inflorescence
of seedless and seeded grapes, promoted seed abortion in tobacco and tomato
fruits.

Hanania U, Velcheva M, Or E, Flaishman M, Sahar N, Perl A.

Department of Fruit Tree Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural
Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, 50250, Bet/​Dagan, Israel, perlx@int.gov.il.

Vitis vinifera L. cv. 'Thompson Seedless' presents a type of stenospermocarpy in
grape where fertilization occurs but seeds abort and fail to develop. To unravel
the molecular basis for stenospermocarpy in grapes, subtractive hybridization
was carried out in order to isolate differentially regulated genes that
participate in the seedlessness machinery. Two 'Thompson' lines, a seeded and a
seedless, were screened during different flower developmental stages. One of the
genes, that was differentially expressed between the seeded and seedless lines,
was the chloroplast chaperonin 21 (ch/​Cpn21). ch/​Cpn21 is a 21/​kDa co/​chaperonin
polypeptide formed by two GroES/​like domains fused together in tandem. Silencing
of ch/​Cpn21 in Nicotiana benthamiana plants resulted in leaf stunting,
chlorosis, as well as ovary necrogenesis leading to seed abortion. Moreover,
organ/​specific silencing of ch/​Cpn21 only in Lycopersicum esculentum fruits
resulted in the development of seedless tomatoes. These results suggest that
ch/​Cpn21 may play a role in seed abortion in stenospermocarpic grapes.

PMID: 17103240 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

32: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 15;54(23):8775/​81.

Extraction of polyphenols from vine shoots of Vitis vinifera by superheated
ethanol/​water mixtures.

Luque/​Rodriguez JM, Perez/​Juan P, Luque de Castro MD.

Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Cordoba, Campus of Rabanales,
Annex C/​3, 14071 Cordoba, Spain.

A study of the nonvolatile fraction of extracts from vine shoots obtained by
superheated ethanol/​water mixtures is presented. The influence of the
temperature, extraction time, and percentage of ethanol on extraction was
investigated by a multivariate experimental design to maximize the yield of
total phenolic compounds, measured by using the Folin/​Ciocalteu method. The best
values found for these variables were 80% (v/v) ethanol, 240 degrees C, and 60
min. Under these conditions, the effect of pH was also investigated, and a
strong improvement of yield was observed by decreasing the pH. The extracts were
subject to liquid/​liquid extraction with n/​hexane. The remaining polar phase was
dried in a rotary evaporator and then reconstituted in 10 mL of water. The
insoluble residue was dissolved in 10 mL of methanol. Both fractions (aqueous
and methanolic) were analyzed by HPLC, and the differences in composition
according to the extraction conditions were studied. Compounds usually present
in commercial wood extracts were identified (mainly benzoic and hydroxycinnamic
acids and aldehydes); the most abundant were quantified, and the stability of
the identified phenolic families under different extraction conditions was also
investigated. Finally, the superiority of the superheated liquid extraction over
conventional solid/​liquid extraction was demonstrated.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17090121 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

33: Plant Cell Environ. 2006 May;29(5):993/​1001.

Direct in situ measurement of cell turgor in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries
during development and in response to plant water deficits.

Thomas TR, Matthews MA, Shackel KA.

Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, CA
95616/​8683, USA.

Vitis vinifera L. berries are non/​climacteric fruits that exhibit a
double/​sigmoid growth pattern, and at the point known as 'veraison', which is
just before the beginning of the second period of rapid fruit growth, these
berries undergo several abrupt physiological changes. Cell pressure probe was
used to examine the in situ turgor (P) of cells in the mesocarp during berry
development and in response to plant water deficits. Initial tests comparing
attached and detached berries demonstrated that cell P was stable for up to 48 h
after detachment from the vine, provided that water loss from the berry was
prevented. Cell P at pre/​dawn was on the order of 0.25 MPa pre/​veraison (PreV)
and was reduced by an order of magnitude to 0.02 MPa post veraison (PostV). Cell
P declined slightly but significantly with depth from the berry surface PreV,
but not PostV. When water was withheld from potted vines, cell P declined about
0.2 Mpa, as pre/​dawn vine water potential declined about 0.6 MPa over 12 d,
whereas cell P was completely insensitive to a 1.10 MPa decrease in pre/​dawn
vine water potential after veraison. Rewatering of stressed plants also resulted
in a 24 h recovery of cell P before, but not after veraison. The substantial
decline in cell P around veraison is consistent with the decline in berry
firmness that is known to occur at this time, and the PostV insensitivity of P
to changes in vine water status is consistent with current hypotheses that the
PostV berry is hydraulically isolated from the vine. The fact that a measurable
P of about 0.02 MPa and typical cell hydraulic/osmotic behaviour were exhibited
in PostV berries, however, indicates that cell membranes remain intact after
veraison, contrary to many current hypotheses that veraison is associated with a
general loss of membrane function and cellular compartmentation in the grape
berry. We hypothesize that cell P is low in the PostV berry, and possibly other
fleshy fruits, because of the presence of regulated quantities of apoplastic
solutes.

PMID: 17087481 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

34: New Phytol. 2006;172(3):469/​78.

Mercury hinders recovery of shoot hydraulic conductivity during grapevine
rehydration: evidence from a whole/​plant approach.

Lovisolo C, Schubert A.

Dipartimento Colture Arboree, Universita di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44,
I/​10095 Grugliasco, Italy. claudio.lovisolo@unito.it

This experiment aimed to test whether recovery of shoot hydraulic conductivity
after drought depends on cellular metabolism in addition to xylem hydraulics. We
rehydrated droughted grapevines (Vitis vinifera) after treating intact plants
through the root with 0.5 mm mercuric chloride (a metabolic inhibitor) at the
end of the stress period, before rehydration. The contribution of
mercury/​inhibited water transport in both shoot and root, and the extent of
shoot vessel embolization, were assessed. Drought stress decreased plant water
potential and induced embolization of the shoot vessels. The rehydration in
Hg/​untreated plants re/​established both shoot water potential and specific shoot
hydraulic conductivity (Kss) at levels comparable with watered controls, and
induced recovery of most of the embolisms formed in the shoot during the
drought. In contrast, in plants treated with HgCl2, recovery of Kss and root
hydraulic conductance were impaired. In rehydrated, Hg/​treated plants, the
effects of Hg on Kss were reversed when either the shoot or the root was treated
with 60 mM beta/​mercaptoethanol as a mercuric scavenger. This work suggests that
plant cellular metabolism, sensitive to mercuric chloride, affects the recovery
of shoot hydraulic conductivity during grapevine rehydration by interfering with
embolism removal, and that it involves either the root or the shoot level.

PMID: 17083677 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

35: Plant Cell Environ. 2006 Jul;29(7):1410/​21.

Three grape CBF/DREB1 genes respond to low temperature, drought and abscisic
acid.

Xiao H, Siddiqua M, Braybrook S, Nassuth A.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.

The C/​repeat (CRT)/​binding factor/dehydration/​responsive element (DRE) binding
protein 1 (CBF/ DREB1) transcription factors control an important pathway for
increased freezing and drought tolerance in plants. Three CBF/DREB1/​like genes,
CBF 1/​3, were isolated from both freezing/​tolerant wild grape (Vitis riparia)
and freezing/​sensitive cultivated grape (Vitis vinifera). The deduced proteins
in V. riparia are 63/​70% identical to each other and 96/​98% identical to the
corresponding proteins in V. vinifera. All Vitis CBF proteins are 42/​51%
identical to AtCBF1 and contain CBF/​specific amino acid motifs, supporting their
identification as CBF proteins. Grape CBF sequences are unique in that they
contain 20/​29 additional amino acids and three serine stretches.
Agro/​infiltration experiments revealed that VrCBF1b localizes to the nucleus.
VrCBF1a, VrCBF1b and VvCBF1 activated a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or
glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene behind CRT/​containing promoters. Expression of
the endogenous CBF genes was low at ambient temperature and enhanced upon low
temperature (4 degrees C) treatment, first for CBF1, followed by CBF2, and about
2 d later by CBF3. No obvious significant difference was observed between V.
riparia and V. vinifera genes. The expression levels of all three CBF genes were
higher in young tissues than in older tissues. CBF1, 2 and 3 transcripts also
accumulated in response to drought and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment,
indicating that grape contains unique CBF genes.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17080962 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

36: Transgenic Res. 2006 Dec;15(6):687/​702. Epub 2006 Oct 27.

The grapevine polygalacturonase/​inhibiting protein (VvPGIP1) reduces Botrytis
cinerea susceptibility in transgenic tobacco and differentially inhibits fungal
polygalacturonases.

Joubert DA, Slaughter AR, Kemp G, Becker JV, Krooshof GH, Bergmann C, Benen J,
Pretorius IS, Vivier MA.

Department of Viticulture & Oenology, Institute for Wine Biotechnology,
Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa, mav@sun.ac.za.

Polygalacturonase/​inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) selectively inhibit
polygalacturonases (PGs) secreted by invading plant pathogenic fungi. PGIPs
display differential inhibition towards PGs from different fungi, also towards
different isoforms of PGs originating from a specific pathogen. Recently, a
PGIP/​encoding gene from Vitis vinifera (Vvpgip1) was isolated and characterised.
PGIP purified from grapevine was shown to inhibit crude polygalacturonase
extracts from Botrytis cinerea, but this inhibitory activity has not yet been
linked conclusively to the activity of the Vvpgip1 gene product. Here we use a
transgenic over/​expression approach to show that the PGIP encoded by the Vvpgip1
gene is active against PGs of B. cinerea and that over/​expression of this gene
in transgenic tobacco confers a reduced susceptibility to infection by this
pathogen. A calculated reduction in disease susceptibility of 47/​69% was
observed for a homogeneous group of transgenic lines that was statistically
clearly separated from untransformed control plants following infection with
Botrytis over a 15/​day/​period. VvPGIP1 was subsequently purified from transgenic
tobacco and used to study the specific inhibition profile of individual PGs from
Botrytis and Aspergillus. The heterologously expressed and purified VvPGIP1
selectively inhibited PGs from both A. niger and B. cinerea, including BcPG1, a
PG from B. cinerea that has previously been shown to be essential for virulence
and symptom development. Altogether our data confirm the antifungal nature of
the VvPGIP1, and the in vitro inhibition data suggest at least in part, that the
VvPGIP1 contributed to the observed reduction in disease symptoms by inhibiting
the macerating action of certain Botrytis PGs in planta. The ability to
correlate inhibition profiles to individual PGs provides a more comprehensive
analysis of PGIPs as antifungal genes with biotechnological potential, and adds
to our understanding of the importance of PGIP:PG interactions during disease
and symptom development in plants.

PMID: 17072564 [PubMed /​ in process]

37: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8510/​20.

Effect of shading on accumulation of flavonoid compounds in (Vitis vinifera L.)
pinot noir fruit and extraction in a model system.

Cortell JM, Kennedy JA.

Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis,
Oregon, 97331, USA.

Accumulation and compositional changes of flavonols, proanthocyanidins, and
anthocyanins were measured in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir in shaded and
exposed treatments. In addition, extraction of these compounds into a model wine
solution was measured. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard within a
uniform zone of relatively low vigor vines. Light exclusion boxes were installed
on pairs of clusters on the same shoot (shaded treatment), and a second set of
clusters on an adjacent shoot were labeled as the exposed treatment. Fruit
samples were harvested at the onset of ripening (veraison) and at commercial
harvest. Cluster shading resulted in a substantial decrease in mg/berry
accumulation of flavonols and skin proanthocyanidins and minimal differences in
anthocyanins. In analyzing seed proanthocyanidins by phloroglucinolysis, shaded
and exposed treatments were similar at veraison; however, by harvest, the shaded
treatment had higher extension and terminal subunits (nmol/seed) as compared to
the exposed treatment. For skin proanthocyanidins, shaded fruit was lower for
all subunits (nmol/berry) at both veraison and harvest. Shading caused an
increase in the proportion of (/​)/​epicatechin and a decrease in
(/​)/​epigallocatechin at harvest in skin extension subunits. Seed
proanthocyanidins in shaded fruit contained a lower proportion of (+)/​catechin
and a higher proportion of (/​)/​epicatechin/​3/​O/​gallate in extension subunits and
a lower proportion of (+)/​catechin and (/​)/​epicatechin/​3/​O/​gallate and a higher
proportion of (/​)/​epicatechin in terminal subunits. For anthocyanins, the shaded
treatment had a proportional reduction in delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, and
malvidin and a large increase in peonidin glucosides. The model extractions from
the two treatments paralleled differences in the fruit with a lower
concentration of flavonols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins in the shaded
treatment. The skin proanthocyanidin percent extraction was found to be
approximately 17% higher in the exposed model extraction than the shaded
treatment.

PMID: 17061828 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

38: Plant Cell. 2006 Oct;18(10):2767/​81. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Abiotic stress generates ROS that signal expression of anionic glutamate
dehydrogenases to form glutamate for proline synthesis in tobacco and grapevine.

Skopelitis DS, Paranychianakis NV, Paschalidis KA, Pliakonis ED, Delis ID,
Yakoumakis DI, Kouvarakis A, Papadakis AK, Stephanou EG, Roubelakis/​Angelakis
KA.

Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409 Heraklion, Greece.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) may be a stress/​responsive enzyme, as GDH exhibits
considerable thermal stability, and de novo synthesis of the alpha/​GDH subunit
is induced by exogenous ammonium and senescence. NaCl treatment induces reactive
oxygen species (ROS), intracellular ammonia, expression of tobacco (Nicotiana
tabacum cv Xanthi) gdh/​NAD;A1 encoding the alpha/​subunit of GDH, increase in
immunoreactive alpha/​polypeptide, assembly of the anionic isoenzymes, and in
vitro GDH aminating activity in tissues from hypergeous plant organs. In vivo
aminating GDH activity was confirmed by gas chromatorgraphy/​mass spectrometry
monitoring of (15)N/​Glu, (15)N/​Gln, and (15)N/​Pro in the presence of methionine
sulfoximine and amino oxyacetic acid, inhibitors of Gln synthetase and
transaminases, respectively. Along with upregulation of alpha/​GDH by NaCl,
isocitrate dehydrogenase genes, which provide 2/​oxoglutarate, are also induced.
Treatment with menadione also elicits a severalfold increase in ROS and
immunoreactive alpha/​polypeptide and GDH activity. This suggests that ROS
participate in the signaling pathway for GDH expression and protease activation,
which contribute to intracellular hyperammonia. Ammonium ions also mimic the
effects of salinity in induction of gdh/​NAD;A1 expression. These results,
confirmed in tobacco and grape (Vitis vinifera cv Sultanina) tissues, support
the hypothesis that the salinity/​generated ROS signal induces alpha/​GDH subunit
expression, and the anionic iso/​GDHs assimilate ammonia, acting as antistress
enzymes in ammonia detoxification and production of Glu for Pro synthesis.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17041150 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

39: Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao. 2006 Sep;22(5):805/​10.

[Effect of homogeneity on cell growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis in suspension
cultures of Vitis vinifera]

[Article in Chinese]

Qu JG, Zhang W, Jin MF, Yu XJ.

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

The instability of secondary metabolite production is a ubiquitous problem in
plant cell culture. To understand the instability, the investigation of
anthocyanin accumulation in suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera, as a model
system, has been initiated in our laboratory. Suspension culture of a relatively
homogeneous cell line E of V. vinifera, was established by long/​term cell line
selection by anthocyanin content differentiation. The aggregate size of E was
smaller than that of other cell lines obtained by routine screening method. The
variation coefficients of anthocyanin content in suspension cultures of E were
8.7% in long/​term subcultures and 5% in repeated flasks, respectively. The
effects of elicitor, precursor feeding and light irridiation on biomass and
anthocyanin accumulation in suspension cultures of E had been investigated and
the results showed that all the variation coefficients were lower than 12% and
this indicated the importance of homogeneity on stable production in plant cell
culture. With the combination treatment of 30micromol/L phenylalanine and
218micromol/L methyl jasmonate in the dark in suspension cultures of E, the
anthocyanin content and production in suspension culture of E was 5.89/​fold and
4.30/​fold of the controls, respectively, and all the variation coefficients of
biomass and anthocyanin accumulation were lower than those of the controls in 5
successive subcultures.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17037206 [PubMed /​ in process]

40: Methods Mol Biol. 2006;344:273/​85.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).

Bouquet A, Torregrosa L, Iocco P, Thomas MR.

UMR Biology of Development of Cultivated Perennial Plants, Agro/​M/INRA, 2, place
Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex1, France.

Grapevine (Vitis) is considered to be one of the major fruit crops in the world
based on hectares cultivated and economic value. Grapes are used not only for
wine but also for fresh fruit, dried fruit, and juice production. Wine is by far
the major product of grapes and the focus of this chapter is on wine grape
cultivars. Grapevine cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. have a reputation for
producing premium quality wines. These premium quality wines are produced from a
small number of cultivars that enjoy a high level of consumer acceptance and are
firmly entrenched in the market place because of varietal name branding and the
association of certain wine styles and regions with specific cultivars. In light
of this situation, grapevine improvement by a transgenic approach is attractive
when compared to a classical breeding approach. The transfer of individual
traits as single genes with a minimum disruption to the original genome would
leave the traditional characteristics of the cultivar intact. However, a
reliable transformation system is required for a successful transgenic approach
to grapevine improvement. There are three criteria for achieving an efficient
Agrobacterium/​mediated transformation system: (1) the production of highly
regenerative transformable tissue, (2) optimal co/​cultivation conditions for
both grapevine tissue and Agrobacterium, and (3) an efficient selection regime
for transgenic plant regeneration. In this chapter, we describe a grapevine
transformation system which meets the above mentioned criteria.

PMID: 17033070 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

41: J Exp Bot. 2006 Oct 10; [Epub ahead of print]

Exploring thermal imaging variables for the detection of stress responses in
grapevine under different irrigation regimes.

Grant OM, Tronina L, Jones HG, Chaves MM.

Laboratorio de Ecofisiologia Molecular, Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e
Biologica, Apartado 127, 2781/​901 Oeiras, Portugal.

Temperatures of leaves or canopies can be used as indicators of stomatal closure
in response to soil water deficit. In 2 years of field experiments with
grapevines (Vitis vinifera L., cvs Castelao and Aragones), it was found that
thermal imaging can distinguish between irrigated and non/​irrigated canopies,
and even between deficit irrigation treatments. Average canopy temperature was
inversely correlated with stomatal conductance measured with a porometer.
Variation of the distribution of temperatures within canopies was not found to
be a reliable indicator of stress. A large degree of variation between images
was found in reference 'wet' and 'dry' leaves used in the first year for the
calculation of an index proportional to stomatal conductance. In the second
year, fully irrigated (FI) (100% Et(c)) and non/​irrigated (NI) canopies were
used as alternatives to wet and dry leaves. A crop water stress index utilizing
these FI and NI 'references', where stressed canopies have the highest values
and non/​stressed canopies have the lowest values, was found to be a suitable
measure for detecting stress. It is suggested that the average temperatures of
areas of canopies containing several leaves may be more useful for
distinguishing between irrigation treatments than the temperatures of individual
leaves. Average temperatures over several leaves per canopy may be expected to
reduce the impact of variation in leaf angles. The results are discussed in
relation to the application of thermal imaging to irrigation scheduling and
monitoring crop performance.

PMID: 17032729 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

42: Mol Ecol. 2006 Oct;15(12):3707/​14.

Multiple origins of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sativa) based
on chloroplast DNA polymorphisms.

Arroyo/​Garcia R, Ruiz/​Garcia L, Bolling L, Ocete R, Lopez MA, Arnold C, Ergul A,
Soylemezoglu G, Uzun HI, Cabello F, Ibanez J, Aradhya MK, Atanassov A, Atanassov
I, Balint S, Cenis JL, Costantini L, Goris/​Lavets S, Grando MS, Klein BY,
McGovern PE, Merdinoglu D, Pejic I, Pelsy F, Primikirios N, Risovannaya V,
Roubelakis/​Angelakis KA, Snoussi H, Sotiri P, Tamhankar S, This P, Troshin L,
Malpica JM, Lefort F, Martinez/​Zapater JM.

Departamento de Genetica Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia,
CSIC, C/Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.

The domestication of the Eurasian grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa) from its
wild ancestor (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) has long been claimed to have
occurred in Transcaucasia where its greatest genetic diversity is found and
where very early archaeological evidence, including grape pips and artefacts of
a 'wine culture', have been excavated. Whether from Transcaucasia or the nearby
Taurus or Zagros Mountains, it is hypothesized that this wine culture spread
southwards and eventually westwards around the Mediterranean basin, together
with the transplantation of cultivated grape cuttings. However, the existence of
morphological differentiation between cultivars from eastern and western ends of
the modern distribution of the Eurasian grape suggests the existence of
different genetic contribution from local sylvestris populations or multilocal
selection and domestication of sylvestris genotypes. To tackle this issue, we
analysed chlorotype variation and distribution in 1201 samples of sylvestris and
sativa genotypes from the whole area of the species' distribution and studied
their genetic relationships. The results suggest the existence of at least two
important origins for the cultivated germplasm, one in the Near East and another
in the western Mediterranean region, the latter of which gave rise to many of
the current Western European cultivars. Indeed, over 70% of the Iberian
Peninsula cultivars display chlorotypes that are only compatible with their
having derived from western sylvestris populations.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17032268 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

43: Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2006 Oct;19(10):1103/​12.

Molecular basis of ergosterol/​induced protection of grape against botrytis
cinerea: induction of type I LTP promoter activity, WRKY, and stilbene synthase
gene expression.

Laquitaine L, Gomes E, Francois J, Marchive C, Pascal S, Hamdi S, Atanassova R,
Delrot S, Coutos/​Thevenot P.

Laboratoire de Physiologie et Biochimie Vegetales, UMR CNRS 6161, Universite de
Poitiers, Batiment Botanique, 40 Avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex,
France.

Type I lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are basic, 9/​kDa cystein/​rich proteins
believed to be involved in plant defense mechanisms. A 2,100/​bp fragment
containing the coding region of Vitis vinifera lipid transfer protein 1 (VvLTP1)
and 1,420/​bp of its promoter region was isolated by screening a grape genomic
library. In silico analysis revealed several putative, defense/​related,
cis/​regulatory elements such as W/​ and MYB/​boxes, involved in the binding of
WRKY and MYB transcription factors, respectively. The 5'/​truncated versions of
the VvLTP1 promoter were generated, cloned in front of the beta/​glucuronidase
(GUS) reporter gene, and introduced in tobacco plants and grapevine cell
suspensions using Agrobacterium spp. Single MYB/​ and the W/​boxes identified on
the 0.250/​kbp fragment were sufficient to induce GUS activity in transgenic
tobacco plants after transient expression of MYB and WRKY. Ergosterol, a
nonspecific fungal elicitor, induced GUS activity in transgenic grapevine cell
suspensions transformed with the 1,420/​ and 750/​bp promoter containing a
palindromic arrangement of two W/​boxes but not the 650/​ or 250/​bp fragment,
where only one W/​box was present. Moreover, ergosterol triggered WRKY, VvLTP1,
and stilbene synthase gene expression in grape plantlets and enhanced protection
against Botrytis cinerea. The molecular basis of ergosterol/​induced protection
is discussed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17022174 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

44: Plant Physiol. 2006 Nov;142(3):1216/​32. Epub 2006 Sep 29.

Light/​induced expression of a MYB gene regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in red
apples.

Takos AM, Jaffe FW, Jacob SR, Bogs J, Robinson SP, Walker AR.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Plant Industry,
Adelaide Laboratory, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.

Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites found in higher plants that contribute to
the colors of flowers and fruits. In apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), several
steps of the anthocyanin pathway are coordinately regulated, suggesting control
by common transcription factors. A gene encoding an R2R3 MYB transcription
factor was isolated from apple (cv Cripps' Pink) and designated MdMYB1. Analysis
of the deduced amino acid sequence suggests that this gene encodes an ortholog
of anthocyanin regulators in other plants. The expression of MdMYB1 in both
Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants and cultured grape cells induced the
ectopic synthesis of anthocyanin. In the grape (Vitis vinifera) cells MdMYB1
stimulated transcription from the promoters of two apple genes encoding
anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes. In ripening apple fruit the transcription of
MdMYB1 was correlated with anthocyanin synthesis in red skin sectors of fruit.
When dark/​grown fruit were exposed to sunlight, MdMYB1 transcript levels
increased over several days, correlating with anthocyanin synthesis in the skin.
MdMYB1 gene transcripts were more abundant in red skin apple cultivars compared
to non/​red skin cultivars. Several polymorphisms were identified in the promoter
of MdMYB1. A derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker designed to
one of these polymorphisms segregated with the inheritance of skin color in
progeny from a cross of an unnamed red skin selection (a sibling of Cripps'
Pink) and the non/​red skin cultivar Golden Delicious. We conclude that MdMYB1
coordinately regulates genes in the anthocyanin pathway and the expression level
of this regulator is the genetic basis for apple skin color.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17012405 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

45: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Oct 4;54(20):7692/​702.

Metabolite profiling of grape: Flavonols and anthocyanins.

Mattivi F, Guzzon R, Vrhovsek U, Stefanini M, Velasco R.

IASMA Research Centre, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
fulvio.mattivi@iasma.it

Flavonols are products of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, which also give
rise to anthocyanins and condensed tannins in grapes. We investigated their
presence in the berry skins of 91 grape varieties (Vitis vinifera L.), in order
to produce a classification based on the flavonol profile. The presence of
laricitrin 3/​O/​galactoside and syringetin 3/​O/​galactoside in red grapes is
reported here for the first time. In red grapes, the main flavonol was quercetin
(mean = 43.99%), followed by myricetin (36.81%), kaempferol (6.43%), laricitrin
(5.65%), isorhamnetin (3.89%), and syringetin (3.22%). In white grapes, the main
flavonol was quercetin (mean = 81.35%), followed by kaempferol (16.91%) and
isorhamnetin (1.74%). The delphinidin/​like flavonols myricetin, laricitrin, and
syringetin were missing in all white varieties, indicating that the enzyme
flavonoid 3',5'/​hydroxylase is not expressed in white grape varieties. The
pattern of expression of flavonols and anthocyanins in red grapes was compared,
in order to gain information on the substrate specificity of enzymes involved in
flavonoid biosynthesis.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17002441 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

46: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Oct 4;54(20):7488/​94.

Survey of grapevine Vitis vinifera stem polyphenols by liquid
chromatography/​diode array detection/​tandem mass spectrometry.

Pussa T, Floren J, Kuldkepp P, Raal A.

Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Estonian University of Life Sciences,
Kreutzwaldi 58A, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.

Grapes and red wine prepared from Vitis vinifera L. contain a variety of
polyphenols. Some information is available about the polyphenols of the seeds
and leaves of grapevine, but considerably less is known about the polyphenols of
woody stems. In this paper, we describe the results of a study of polyphenolic
compounds in grapevine stems. We demonstrate how a combination of reversed phase
high/​performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet/​diode array detection
and electrospray ionization/​tandem mass spectrometry ion/​trap detection enables
characterization of a phytochemical mixture of considerable complexity. As the
polyphenol source, the stems of three frost/​hardy grapevine varieties [Hasaine
(Hasansky) sladki, Zilga, and Yubilei Novgoroda] were used. The main group of
methanol/​extractable polyphenols of stems consists of trans/​resveratrol and its
derivatives including oligomers and glucosides. As minor components of the
extract, stilbenoid piceatannol as well as a number of nonstilbenoid
polyphenols, mostly flavan/​3/​ols and phenolic acids glucosides, were determined.
The total polyphenol content of the grapevine stems depends on the variety,
whereby the stems of cultivar Yubilei Novgoroda with white grapes contain
significantly less of both groups of polyphenols.

PMID: 17002412 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

47: Food Addit Contam. 2006 Oct;23(10):994/​9.

Rate of degradation of lambda/​cyhalothrin and methomyl in grapes (Vitis vinifera
L.).

Banerjee K, Upadhyay AK, Adsule PG, Patil SH, Oulkar DP, Jadhav DR.

National Research Centre for Grapes, P. O. Manjri Farm, P. B. No. 3, Solapur
Road, Pune, 412 307, Maharashtra, India. kbgrape@yahoo.com

Rates of degradation of lambda/​cyhalothrin and methomyl residues in grape are
reported. The dissipation behavior of both insecticides followed first/​order
rate kinetics with similar patterns at standard and double/​dose applications.
Residues of lambda/​cyhalothrin were lost with pre/​harvest intervals (PHI) of
12.0/​12.5 and 15.0/​15.5 days, corresponding to the applications at 25 and 50 g
a.i. ha/​1, respectively. In the case of methomyl, residues were lost with PHI of
55.0 and 61.0 days, following applications at 1 and 2 kg a.i. ha/​1,
respectively. The PHI, recommended on the basis of the experimental results, was
shown to be effective in minimizing residue load of these insecticides below
their maximum residue limits (MRLs) in vineyard samples.

PMID: 16982521 [PubMed /​ in process]

48: J Plant Physiol. 2006 Sep 16; [Epub ahead of print]

Cloning, functional identification and structural modelling of Vitis vinifera
S/​adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.

Tassoni A, Franceschetti M, Tasco G, Casadio R, Bagni N.

Department of Biology e.s. and Interdepartmental Centre for Biotechnology,
University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna 40126, Italy.

In this paper we report the cloning and full sequencing of S/​adenosylmethionine
decarboxylase (SAMDC, EC 4.1.1.50) cDNA from Vitis vinifera L. (VV) leaves, an
enzyme belonging to the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, which appears to play an
important role in the regulation of plant growth and development. The presence
of two overlapping ORFs (tiny ORF and small ORF) upstream of the main ORF is
reported in the Vitis cDNA. When the Vitis SAMDC cDNA was expressed in yeast
without the two upstream ORFs, the resulting activity was about 50 times higher
than the activity obtained with the full cDNA. These results demonstrated the
strong regulatory activity of the tiny and small ORFs. RT/​PCR expression
analysis showed evidence of a similar mRNA level in all the tissues tested, with
the exception of the petioles. The VV SAMDC was also modelled using its
homologues from Solanum tuberosum and Homo sapiens as template. The present work
confirmed, for the first time in a woody plant of worldwide economic interest
such as grapevine, the presence of a regulatory mechanism of SAMDC, enzyme that
has a well/​established importance in the modulation of plant growth and
development.

PMID: 16982115 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

49: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Nov;72(11):7246/​52. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Enhancement of chilling resistance of inoculated grapevine plantlets with a
plant growth/​promoting rhizobacterium, Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN.

Ait Barka E, Nowak J, Clement C.

Laboratoire de Stress, Defenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unite de Recherche
Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UPRES EA 2069, UFR Sciences, Universite de Reims
Champagne/​Ardenne, 51687 Reims Cedex 2, France. ea.barka@univ/​reims.fr

In vitro inoculation of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay explants with a plant
growth/​promoting rhizobacterium, Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN,
increased grapevine growth and physiological activity at a low temperature.
There was a relationship between endophytic bacterial colonization of the
grapevine plantlets and their growth at both ambient (26 degrees C) and low (4
degrees C) temperatures and their sensitivities to chilling. The major benefits
of bacterization were observed on root growth (11.8/​ and 10.7/​fold increases at
26 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively) and plantlet biomass (6/​ and
2.2/​fold increases at 26 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively). The
inoculation with PsJN also significantly improved plantlet cold tolerance
compared to that of the nonbacterized control. In nonchilled plantlets,
bacterization enhanced CO(2) fixation and O(2) evolution 1.3 and 2.2 times,
respectively. The nonbacterized controls were more sensitive to exposure to low
temperatures than were the bacterized plantlets, as indicated by several
measured parameters. Moreover, relative to the noninoculated controls,
bacterized plantlets had significantly increased levels of starch, proline, and
phenolics. These increases correlated with the enhancement of cold tolerance of
the grapevine plantlets. In summary, B. phytofirmans strain PsJN inoculation
stimulates grapevine growth and improves its ability to withstand cold stress.

PMID: 16980419 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

50: J Exp Bot. 2006 Oct 4; [Epub ahead of print]

Use of thermal and visible imagery for estimating crop water status of irrigated
grapevine.

Moller M, Alchanatis V, Cohen Y, Meron M, Tsipris J, Naor A, Ostrovsky V,
Sprintsin M, Cohen S.

Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research
Org