A 3-Year Adaptation Study of Three Distinct Grapevine Cultivars under Midwestern Field Conditions

Simultaneous responses of American (Concord), European (Pinot Noir), and American-European hybrid (Traminette) cultivars to seasonal and diurnal variation in field environmental conditions were assessed to propose suitable cultivars for potential use for selection and breeding in grapevines in dry areas. ‘Pinot Noir’ had higher gas exchange parameters, higher water potential, and chlorophyll fluorescence, while ‘Concord’ had the lowest values in all three seasons and experienced moderate stress by the end of each season. The dry conditions in 2005 caused water potential to decline sharply compared to values recorded in 2004 and 2006. ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Traminette’ exhibited a mild stress, while ‘Concord’ exhibited a moderate stress in 2006. Photosynthetic rate decreased slightly during the summer with a slight recovery at the beginning of September, and did not differ across the seasons among cultivars. Stomatal conductance followed the same pattern. However, in both 2004 and 2005, stomatal conductance dropped sharply late in the season because of frequently occurring high temperatures that were greater than 32 °C. Maximum morning values of Fv/Fm were within the optimal range. The study suggests the presence of marginal photoinhibition during mid-summer in Concord cultivars, because no full recovery of photochemical efficiency early in the evening was observed. The European cultivar (Pinot Noir) and the American-European hybrid (Traminette) are more adapted to field conditions in Kansas than Concord cultivars. However, high cold-mortality of Pinot Noir due to high sensitivity to cold winter temperature makes the hybrid cultivars the most suitable cultivar for Midwest regions with relatively cold winters.     

葡萄VvSUC12基因启动子的克隆及上游调控因子鉴定

枝干病害葡萄溃疡病近年来严重限制了葡萄产业发展。研究表明葡萄蔗糖转运蛋白参与寄主植物和病原菌的互作过程。为解析蔗糖转运蛋白VvSUC12在葡萄免疫反应过程中的功能,本研究克隆了VvSUC12基因翻译起始位点上游1 500 bp的启动子区,通过生物信息学分析发现该区域包含4个Dof转录因子结合序列(A/TAAAG)及多种激素调节与防御相关的顺式元件。实时荧光定量分析显示,接种可可毛色二孢菌显著诱导VvSUC12和VvDof19基因的表达。通过酵母单杂交实验筛选得到与VvSUC12启动子互作的转录因子VvDof19。酵母双杂交实验证实VvDof19具有自激活活性;进一步通过烟草瞬时表达发现Dof19-GFP的相对GUS活性约为对照GFP的9倍,表明转录因子VvDof19能够激活VvSUC12基因的表达。研究结果为深入研究蔗糖转运蛋白在葡萄免疫反应中的功能奠定基础。     

Is partial root-zone drying an effective irrigation technique to improve water use efficiency and fruit quality in field-grown wine grapes under semiarid conditions?

We investigated the effects of partial root-zone drying (PRD) applied at different periods on leaf water relations, vegetative development, fruit yield, must and wine quality in wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Monastrell) during a 3-year field experiment in order to determine the importance of the timing of PRD application on physiological and agronomical vine response under semiarid conditions. Two irrigation treatments were applied: conventional drip irrigation (CI) and PRD. Both treatments received the same annual water quantity. Each year the PRD treatment was applied at different periods of the growth cycle. In 1999 PRD was applied from veraison to harvest (end July–early September); in 2000 from fruit set to harvest (mid June–early September); and in 2001 PRD from budburst to harvest (mid April–early September). Leaf water relations and gas exchange during the experimental period were not significantly affected by PRD treatment. In 1999 and 2000 there was no significant treatment effect on vegetative development, yield or fruit quality. However, in 2001 (when PRD was applied from budburst to harvest), reproductive and vegetative development was clearly altered in PRD vines. Fruit set percentage and vegetative development (shoot length, pruning weight and primary and lateral leaf area) were significantly increased in PRD vines compared to CI. This resulted in both higher yield (kg per vine) (43%) and water use efficiency (40%) compared to CI vines. Berry number per cluster and cluster weight were also significantly increased in PRD vines. Notwithstanding higher yield in PRD vines and a similar berry size, the must and wine quality was not significantly altered, indicating a higher synthesis and accumulation of photoassimilates and metabolites in the berries of PRD vines. We conclude that there was an positive effect on vegetative and reproductive growth when long-term PRD was applied from the beginning of growing season (budburst), suggesting that early onset of PRD is desirable to intensify PRD response under these semiarid conditions. Nevertheless from these results we need to further investigate the long- and short-term effects of PRD, with moderate water amounts, on vegetative and reproductive development such as flowering and fruit set processes in wine grapes.     

Chitosan Stimulates Defense Reactions in Grapevine Leaves and Inhibits Development of Botrytis Cinerea

Chitosan (β-1,4-linked glucosamine oligomer) derived from crab shells conferred a high protection of grapevine leaves against grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea. Under controlled conditions, it was shown to be an efficient elicitor of some defense reactions in grapevine leaves and to inhibit directly the in vitro development of B. cinerea. Treatment of grapevine leaves by chitosan led to marked induction of lipoxygenase (LOX), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chitinase activities, three markers of plant defense responses. Dose-response curves show that maximum defense reactions (PAL and chitinase activities) and strong reduction of B. cinerea infection were achieved with 75–150 mg l⁻¹ chitosan. However, greater concentrations of chitosan did not protect grapevine leaves with the same efficiency, but inhibited mycelial growth in vitro. Present results underlined the potency of chitosan in inducing some defense responses in grapevine leaves which in turn might improve resistance to grey mould.     

Detection and Elimination of Viruses in Callus, Somatic Embryos and Regenerated Plantlets of Grapevine

The distribution of some grapevine viruses in flower explants, embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli, single somatic embryos and plants regenerated from embryogenic cultures was investigated by RT-PCR and ELISA. Immature anthers and ovaries of the cultivars Grignolino infected by GRSPaV, GLRaV-1 and GVA, Müller-Thurgau infected by GRSPaV and GLRaV-3 and Bosco infected by GRSPaV were cultivated on media inducing indirect somatic embryogenesis. Viruses were detected both in anthers and ovaries. Four months after culture initiation 65.6% of tested calli were infected by at least one virus; high percentages of virus infection were found in calli originating from ovaries. No virus was detected in calli tested 8 months after culture initiation, as well as in single somatic embryos or in embryo-derived plantlets. Somatic embryogenesis confirmed its effectiveness in eliminating phloem-limited grapevine viruses. Regeneration of RT-PCR negative plantlets occurred even when at least a sector of the callus was still infected: the mechanism whereby somatic embryos are freed of some viruses could be related to the rapid proliferation of embryogenic cells within the callus or to the origin of the embryogenic callus from virus-free cells within the original explant.     

Effects of three esca-associated fungi on Vitis vinifera L.: II. Characterization of biomolecules in xylem sap and leaves of healthy and diseased vines

Secondary metabolites and host defense compounds were shown to occur in xylem sap, and leaves of Vitis vinifera cv. Italia and cv. Matilde naturally infected by the esca-associated fungi Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Togninia minima (Tmi) and Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fme). Samples of xylem sap and leaves were collected from healthy vines and from vines showing severe symptoms of brown wood-streaking caused by Pch and Tmi, or from vines with symptoms of both brown wood-streaking and white rot caused by Fme. Xylem sap collection was carried out during the early spring of 2003 and 2004, corresponding to the phenological phases: (A) cotton bud; (B) green tip; (C) leaves out; (D) stretched out leaves; and (E) visible clusters. In the present work we have studied the accumulation of biomolecules (pentaketides and α-glucans), host defense compounds (benzaldehydes, benzoic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonols, flavanols, flavan-3-ol derivatives and stilbenes) at different stages of grapevine development. Accumulation and changes in total phenolics and recurring phenolics, and of three phytotoxic secondary metabolites (scytalone, isosclerone and pullulan) were analyzed by HPLC. On comparing results for cv. Italia and cv. Matilde, it can be seen that phenolic concentrations are strongly related to the cv.     

Effects of three esca-associated fungi on Vitis vinifera L.: III. Enzymes produced by the pathogens and their role in fungus-to-plant or in fungus-to-fungus interactions

When the esca-associated fungi Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Togninia minima (Tmi) and Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fme) were grown in liquid stationary cultures, it was seen that they were able to live in media containing resveratrol (RES) or tannic acid (TA) as the sole carbon source and that the fungi were able to convert both compounds. Particular attention is paid here to detecting RES and TA conversion. Pch, Tmi and Fme were partially inhibited by RES or TA. Pch, Tmi and Fme produced extracellular tannase, laccase and peroxidase enzymes in liquid or agarized cultures, whether glucose was present or not. When colonies of Pch, Tmi and Fme were confronted, they showed spatially and temporally heterogeneous patterns of laccase and peroxidase activity. The results indicate the non-synergistic, competitive association of Pch and Tmi and the inhibition of Fme growth. Muconic acid, a well-known intermediate in a large number of lignin and phenol oxidative processes, can partly or completely inhibit the lignolytic agent Fme, but is tolerated by Pch and Tmi. An explanation for wood pigmentation patterns by Pch, Tmi and Fme is given.     

葡萄实生树开花节位与内源激素变化的关系

 采用酶联免疫法( ELISA) 分析了巨峰葡萄2年生自然实生树不同节位芽中内源赤霉素(GA₃和GA_{4 + 7} ) 、吲哚乙酸( IAA) 、脱落酸(ABA) 、玉米素核苷(ZR) 和异戊基腺嘌呤( iPA) 的含量; 并对实生树自然条件下最低成花节位进行了调查。结果表明, 2年生巨峰实生树在20节左右进入生殖生长阶段, GA₃和GA_{4 + 7}的含量随着节位升高而降低, ABA的含量却急剧增加, 但在第31～35节又降到很低;ABA /GA₃和ABA /GA_{4 + 7}在16～20 节前变化不大, 而在此之后, 都一致表现出上升的趋势, 这反映了以GA₃或GA_{4 + 7}为基数的比值, 可以更明显地反应激素的变化及其与巨峰葡萄阶段转变的关系。     

葡萄新品种‘紫秋’

 从野生刺葡萄资源中选育出的新品种‘紫秋’, 植株生长势强, 适应性强, 耐旱、耐粗放栽培,抗病性强, 适合南方高温、多湿气候条件, 而且结果早, 产量高, 果实味甜, 风味好, 市场上颇受欢迎。     

15份葡萄种质亲缘关系的ISSR分析

利用ISSR标记对15份葡萄材料进行了基因组多态性分析,从60条引物中筛选出15条用于葡萄的ISSR扩增。共扩增出105条带,其中多态性条带91条,多态性百分率为86.7%。根据ISSR扩增结果,利用NTSYSpc2.10e软件进行Jaccard相似性系数分析,15份葡萄材料的遗传相似系数为0.27～0.75,平均遗传相似系数为0.471。通过UPGMA进行聚类分析,探索亲缘关系。在遗传相似系数0.39处,15份葡萄材料可分为2大类群。第1类包含7份山葡萄资源、2个山欧杂交品种,第2类包含3个欧亚种品种、2个欧美杂种品种和1个美洲杂种品种。由此可见,山葡萄与欧亚种、美洲杂种葡萄的亲缘关系较远,欧亚种与美洲杂种之间亲缘关系较近。