Tissue-specific mRNA expression profiling in grape berry tissues

Abstract

Background: Berries of grape (Vitis vinifera) contain three major tissue types (skin, pulp and seed) all of which contribute to the aroma, color, and flavor characters of wine. The pericarp, which is composed of the exocarp (skin) and mesocarp (pulp), not only functions to protect and feed the developing seed, but also to assist in the dispersal of the mature seed by avian and mammalian vectors. The skin provides volatile and nonvolatile aroma and color compounds, the pulp contributes organic acids and sugars, and the seeds provide condensed tannins, all of which are important to the formation of organoleptic characteristics of wine. In order to understand the transcriptional network responsible for controlling tissue-specific mRNA expression patterns, mRNA expression profiling was conducted on each tissue of mature berries of V. vinifera Cabernet Sauvignon using the Affymetrix GeneChip ® Vitis oligonucleotide microarray ver. 1.0. In order to monitor the influence of water-deficit stress on tissue-specific expression patterns, mRNA expression profiles were also compared from mature berries harvested from vines subjected to well-watered or water-deficit conditions.

Origins of Grape and Wine Aroma. Part 1. Chemical Components and Viticultural Impacts

“…In general, reduced vine water status is thought to alter carotenoid composition and norisoprenoid composition (Oliveira et al 2003). In grapes, water deficits increased levels of carotenoids and selected C 13 -norisoprenoids produced from carotenoid degradation in some studies (Bindon et al 2007, Grimplet et al 2007, although the effect may depend on the norisoprenoid measured (Ou et al 2010). These results are consistent with a recent study that indicates that regulation of carotenoid metabolism/degradation is highly complex and may occur at multiple levels (Young et al 2012).…”

“…These results are consistent with a recent study that indicates that regulation of carotenoid metabolism/degradation is highly complex and may occur at multiple levels (Young et al 2012). Water deficits have had variable effects on monoterpene levels, with either no effect or elevating the concentrations of some compounds (Grimplet et al 2007, Ou et al 2010. Water deficits were not well correlated with levels of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in Cabernet Sauvignon wines (Chapman et al 2005).…”

ABA-deficiency and molecular mechanisms involved in the dehydration response and ripening of citrus fruit

“…(Grimplet et al, 2007;Rizzini et al, 2009;Deluc et al, 2009). Over the past years, the Spanish Citrus Functional Genomic Project (CFGP) has generated useful tools for citrus transcriptomic research.…”

“…However, in spite of the relevance of this environmental factor on fruit quality, knowledge of these mechanisms in fruits is limited. Nevertheless, transcriptomic studies conducted in grapes indicate that genes, gene categories, and regulatory elements are differently affected by dehydration occurring before or after harvesting the fruit and also by the stress severity (Grimplet et al, 2007;Rizzini et al, 2009;Deluc et al, 2009;Zamboni et al, 2010).…”

“…Deregulation of these water stress metabolites and/or responsive genes can be finally manifested as cellular damaged tissues (Alférez et al, 2008). Moreover, mechanisms occurring in grape berries dehydrated after harvest (Grimplet et al, 2007;Zamboni et al, 2010) or in berries from water-stressed vines (Deluc et al, 2009) indicated that dehydration may have a profound effect on the expression of genes associated with the biosynthesis of relevant compounds that ultimately impact fruit quality.…”