Flower abscission and fruit set on table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.): unraveling physiological and molecular mechanisms

Doutoramento em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

Mineral stress response of Vitis cell wall transcriptome: identification, characterization and expression of genes from key families involved in wall biosynthesis and modification

Doutoramento em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

Effects of different intensity of early leaf removal on vegetative and productive activity and grape quality (cv. Nero d'Avola, Vitis vinifera)

Mestrado Vinifera Euromaster - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

In vivo analgesic activity and safety assessment of Vitis vinifera L and Punica granatum L fruits extracts

Purpose: To investigate the analgesic properties of fruit extracts of Vitis vinifera (grape) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) in Albino mal mice. Methods: The analgesic activity of fruit extracts of V. vinifera and P. granatum were examined in vivo using thermal stimulus assays (i.e., tail immersion and hot plate) and acetic acid-induced writhing test using acetylsalicylic acid (0.1 g/kg, per os) as standard. The extracts were administered orally in doses of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg. Results: In acetic acid writhes test, both fruit extract pretreatments (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg, per os) significantly decreased the number of writhes (p < 0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner compared to control. The Index of Pain Inhibition (IPI) values following V. vinifera extract treatments were 36.52 % (1.0 g/kg), 66.67 % (2.0 g/kg) and 89.71 % (3.0 g/kg) which were significantly different from those for P. granatum extracts (45.39 %, 1.0 g/kg), 70.93 %, 2.0 g/kg) and 86.88 %, 3.0 g/kg) at equivalent doses of 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg of the extracts The fruit extracts of both species increased the reaction latency time. In tail-immersion assay, only the fruit extract of P. granatum significantly increased the response to heat stimulus at doses of 2.0 g/kg (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The hydroalcohol fruit extracts of P. granatum and V. vinifera have potential analgesic effects. Further studies are needed to determine the active component responsible for this effect.

Environmental factors correlated with the metabolite profile of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir berry skins along a European latitudinal gradient

Mature berries of Pinot Noir grapevines were sampled across a latitudinal gradient in Europe, from southern Spain to central Germany. Our aim was to study the influence of latitude-dependent environmental factors on the metabolite composition (mainly phenolic compounds) of berry skins. Solar radiation variables were positively correlated with flavonols and flavanonols and, to a lesser extent, with stilbenes and cinnamic acids. The daily means of global and erythematic UV solar radiation over long periods (bud break-veraison, bud break-harvest, and veraison-harvest), and the doses and daily means in shorter development periods (5–10 days before veraison and harvest) were the variables best correlated with the phenolic profile. The ratio between trihydroxylated and monohydroxylated flavonols, which was positively correlated with antioxidant capacity, was the berry skin variable best correlated with those radiation variables. Total flavanols and total anthocyanins did not show any correlation with radiation variables. Air temperature, degree days, rainfall, and aridity indices showed fewer correlations with metabolite contents than radiation. Moreover, the latter correlations were restricted to the period veraison-harvest, where radiation, temperature, and water availability variables were correlated, making it difficult to separate the possible individual effects of each type of variable. The data show that managing environmental factors, in particular global and UV radiation, through cultural practices during specific development periods, can be useful to promote the synthesis of valuable nutraceuticals and metabolites that influence wine quality.

Impacts of crop level, soil and irrigation management in grape berries of cv ‘Trincadeira’ (Vitis vinifera L.)

Berry size and crop yield are widely recognized as important factors that contribute to wine quality. The final berry size indirectly affects the phenolic concentration of the wine due to skin surface-to-berry volume ratio. The effects of different irrigation levels, soil management and plant crop level on growth of ‘Trincadeira’ berries were studied. In order to test the influence of different irrigation levels (rainfed, pre-veraison and post-veraison), different soil management (tillage and natural cover crops) and different plant crop levels (8 and 16 clusters per vine), leaf water potential, skin anthocyanin, polyphenols, berry skin and seed fresh weight were measured in fruits. The segregation of berries into three different berry classes: small, medium and large, allowed to identify different levels of contribution of soil management and irrigation level into berry, skin and seeds ratios. As expected, higher water availability due to irrigation and soil tillage management during berry development induced an increase in berry flesh weight and this was more evident in larger berries; however, berry skin and seed fresh weight remained unchanged. Also, anthocyanins did not show significant differences.

Manejo da poda e de indutores de brotação em diferentes cultivares Vitis vinifera na região da Campanha Gaúcha.

A vitivinicultura no Rio Grande do Sul tem reconhecimento no cenário enológico nacional e a Campanha Gaúcha tem sua participação neste processo. Com vinhedos implantados na década de 70, no município de Santana do Livramento- RS, para produção de uvas finas, a região tem apresentado crescente desenvolvimento com instalação de novas vinícolas. Apesar dos benefícios climáticos, a Campanha apresenta invernos irregulares, tanto na distribuição como na qualidade do frio, provocando brotações irregulares, baixa produtividade e desuniformidade na produção dos vinhedos. Buscando novas tecnologias para melhorar a qualidade de brotação e consequente qualidade produtiva, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o comportamento de brotação de diferentes cultivares de Vitis vinifera em relação às diferentes épocas de poda com a interação de indutores químicos de brotação.

Brotação de clones da cultivar Moscato Branco (Vitis vinifera) submetidas a diferentes períodos de frio durante a endodormência.

A videira é uma planta caducifólia, perde suas folhas e inicia a endodormência com as primeiras horas de frio (HF, horas em temperatura <7,2°C) no outono. Portanto, suprindo a exigência de HF, que pode ser distinta entre genótipos, a planta tende a uma brotação plena e uniforme e pode ser um parâmetro de seleção para as condições locais de cultivo. O trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar a evolução do potencial de brotação de clones de Moscato Branco ao longo do período da endodormência.

Effect of acaricides on Calepitrimerus vitis (Napela, 1905) (Acari: Eriophyidae) and on the production os vineyards.

2016

Épocas de poda e uso de cianamida hidrogenada na brotação de videiras "Merlot" (Vitis vinifera L.) na Região da Campanha Gaúcha.

A Campanha Gaúcha vem sendo classificada entre as regiões vitivinícolas mais promissoras no Rio Grande do Sul, especialmente pelas suas condições edafoclimáticas com maior restrição hídrica e drenagem do solo. Apesar do início da vitivinicultura nesta região datar da década de 70, a maior intensificação dos plantios e produção ocorreu nos últimos dez anos, porém sem muitos subsídios técnicos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos da antecipação da poda hibernal e concentrações de cianamida hidrogenada (CH) sobre o potencial produtivo da uva ?Merlot?/SO4 conduzida nos sistemas de poda Guyot Duplo (DG) e Cordão Esporonado (CE).

South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus damage and management in Vitis vinifera table grapes in southern Brazil.

2011

Effects and Modes od Action of Canopy Management Practices on Vine Physiology and Berry Composition in Organically-Cultivated cv. Sangiovese (Vitis Vinifera L.)

In organic and biodynamic vineyards, canopy management practices should be carefully and timely modulated, particularly in a context of climate change, for successfully achieving balanced plants, ventilated and exposed berries, elevated grape and wine quality. In 2013 and 2014, characterized by contrasting climatic conditions, the implications of post-veraison (late) or pea-size trimming, post-veraison or pre-harvest late defoliations and shoot-positioning (post-veraison) were assessed against long-shoots non treated controls, under field conditions on organically-cultivated cv. Sangiovese. The key agronomic and enological relevance of late trimming and defoliations clearly emerged in both seasons. Berry skin phenolics (e.g. anthocyanins, flavonols) increased markedly, without changes in technological parameters. In case of early trimming, such positive effects were observed only in 2013. Maintaining long shoots for shading decreased anthocyanins, flavonols and total phenolics concentrations and promoted the production of compact bunches. Experimental data strongly designated late trimming, a practice proved to contain yield and bunch compactness, as a valuable alternative to cluster thinning. Late trimming, defoliations and shoot positioning reduced the severity of Botrytis cluster rot. The highest levels of berry skins phenolic compounds in late trimmed and defoliated plants could have contributed control the severity of this pathogen. The enological benefits induced by late trimming and defoliations and shoot positioning emerged in both young and aged wines. For the first time, cell cultures from cv. Sangiovese berry tissues were obtained and enabled to investigate, in controlled conditions, the relations between mechanisms regulating secondary metabolism in grapevine cells and changes induced by environmental and agronomic factors. The Doctoral Dissertation strongly highlights the need to consider, for a proper interpretation of the multiple modifications induced by canopy management strategies, physiological mechanisms other than the canonic source-sink relationships, in particular their impact on the vine hormonal status.

CONSOCIAZIONE DI CULTIVARS DI Vitis vinifera CON LA CULTIVAR "ISABELLA" (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca) IN FARI AGROECOLOGICI

Il massiccio utilizzo di fungicidi in Viticoltura e i loro effetti negativi sulla salute dell’uomo e dell’ambiente sollecitano lo sviluppo di strategie agronomiche e di sistemi agrari innovativi. Il Lavoro di Tesi ha investigato l’influenza della cv Isabella su cultivars di Vitis vinifera in campo, in Fari Agroecologici, sistemi agrari frutto di una gestione partecipativa. L'esperimento ha dimostrato, per la prima volta, che la cultivar Isabella, nota per la sua tolleranza ai principali patogeni fungini, può contenere l’Incidenza della peronospora in cultivars di Vitis vinifera consociate e contigue. Studi precedenti dimostrano che i VOCs emessi dalla cv Isabella sono in grado di ridurre la presenza di patogeni fungini. La ricerca pioneristica ha evidenziato il ruolo chiave della biodiversità nella gestione dell’ecosistema vigneto, nella prospettiva della progettazione di sistemi viticoli agroecologici.

Potenziali effetti della consociazione tra genotipi di Vitis: osservazioni in vivaio

È necessario intraprendere una via maggiormente ecosostenibile e vantaggiosa per gestire le problematiche presenti in vivaio, e in generale in vigneto, adottando tecniche ammesse in agricoltura biologica o, meglio ancora, con una visione agroecologica della gestione. Le osservazioni condotte presso i Vivai Maiorana hanno indagato la diversa suscettibilità di genotipi di vite ai principali patogeni fungini e gli effetti della consociazione sui sintomi causati da tali patogeni. In primo luogo si è osservata la differenza di suscettibilità tra le cultivars di Merlot e la varietà portinnesto Kober 5BB. I genotipi di Vitis vinifera analizzati si sono dimostrati suscettibili, a differenza del portinnesto Kober 5BB che è risultato completamente esente da sintomi. In seguito, le osservazioni si sono concentrate nel lotto del barbatellaio, in cui tre filari di Calabrese e tre filari di Nerello Mascalese sono separati da un filare di Isabella. Le osservazioni svolte hanno permesso di indagare gli effetti della consociazione, sfruttando l’attuale impostazione del vivaio, in cui diversi genotipi di vite vengono coltivate a stretto contatto. Si è osservata una variazione dei sintomi di peronospora su Vitis vinifera in relazione alla distanza dalla varietà Isabella. L’effetto è presumibilmente mediato da VOCs specifici. Questi benefici, se opportunamente sfruttati, consentirebbero di ridurre sensibilmente la necessità di intervenire con prodotti esogeni nella gestione del barbatellaio, aumentando la possibilità di impostare una produzione biologica che soddisfi le necessità della viticoltura moderna, con vantaggi agronomici ed ecologici.

The Rg1 allele as a valuable tool for genetic transformation of the tomato 'Micro-Tom' model system

Background: The cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) is regarded as a model system for tomato genetics due to its short life cycle and miniature size. However, efforts to improve tomato genetic transformation have led to protocols dependent on the costly hormone zeatin, combined with an excessive number of steps. Results: Here we report the development of a MT near-isogenic genotype harboring the allele Rg1 (MT-Rg1), which greatly improves tomato in vitro regeneration. Regeneration was further improved in MT by including a two-day incubation of cotyledonary explants onto medium containing 0.4 mu M 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) before cytokinin treatment. Both strategies allowed the use of 5 mu M 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), a cytokinin 100 times less expensive than zeatin. The use of MT-Rg1 and NAA pre-incubation, followed by BAP regeneration, resulted in high transformation frequencies (near 40%), in a shorter protocol with fewer steps, spanning approximately 40 days from Agrobacterium infection to transgenic plant acclimatization. Conclusions: The genetic resource and the protocol presented here represent invaluable tools for routine gene expression manipulation and high throughput functional genomics by insertional mutagenesis in tomato.