Search

Chardonnay is a non-floral grape with economic value and nutritional properties that is widely grown in northwestern China. However, limited research has been conducted on exogenous spraying to regulate volatile compound metabolism (especially isoprene metabolism) in Chardonnay grapes. Benzothiadiazole (BTH) can induce disease resistance and augment the contents of phenolics and volatile compounds in grapes. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of BTH on the accumulation of isoprene aroma, carotenoid levels and the activity profiles of key enzymes. Chardonnay grapevines were treated with 0.37 mM BTH at veraison to investigate the impact on physicochemical parameters, carotenoids, metabolic enzyme activities, and free and bound isoprenoids in developing Chardonnay grapes. The results showed that reducing sugars, and total soluble solids of BTH-treated grapes increased, while the content of titratable acidity, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, chlorophyll, and total carotenoids in treated ripe grapes decreased relative to control berries. BTH-treated ripe grapes exhibited elevated levels of bound norisoprenoids and three key enzemy activities (carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase, phytoene synthase, lycopene β-cyclase), with a slight decrease in free norisoprenoids. Free and bound terpenoids profiles were also significantly enhanced by BTH treatment at veraison. Our findings offer novel perspectives into the modulation of isoprene biosynthesis in grape berries when exposed to BTH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), is an invasive planthopper from China, which was first detected in Berks County, PA, in 2014 and has since spread to adjacent states including New Jersey in 2018. Lycorma delicatula is a polyphagous species that gregariously feeds on over 172 known hosts. We investigated development on key host plants Ailanthus altissima (Miller) (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae), Juglans nigra (L.) (Fagales: Juglandaceae), Acer rubrum (L.) (Sapindales: Sapindaceae), and Vitis vinifera (L.) (Vitales: Vitaceae) for each instar to elucidate potential host use throughout the season and target monitoring efforts. Our study indicated significant differences in survivorship and time spent in each nymphal life stage between host plants. We applied a host suitability index as a function of survivorship and development for each host plant and instar, which indicated A. altissima and J. nigra as suitable hosts for all 4 nymphal instars. Vitis vinifera was highly suitable for first and second instars but had low indices for the third and fourth instars, although suitability of V. vinifera may have varied based on variety and age of the vine. Lycorma delicatula nymphs had the lowest survivorship and longest development time on A. rubrum across all 4 life stages, despite this being a preferred oviposition host. Host had a significant effect on the morphometrics we measured within the first and second instars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of leaf removal at three stages of grape development on the phenolic and volatile profiles of Cabernet Sauvignon and Marselan grapevines for two consecutive years in the Jieshi Mountain region, an area of eastern China with high summer rainfall. The results indicated that cluster-zone leaf removal generally reduced the titratable acidity of both varieties, but did not affect the total soluble solids of grape berries. Leaf-removal treatments increased the anthocyanin and flavonol content of berries in both varieties. However, in Cabernet Sauvignon, leaf removal negatively affected the norisoprenoid compounds, with a more pronounced impact observed when the leaf removal was conducted at an early stage. This negative effect may be related to a decrease in the levels of violaxanthin and neoxanthin, potential precursors of vitisprine and β-damascenone. In contrast, the removal of leaves had no effect on the norisoprenoid aroma of Marselan grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster thinning has been widely applied in yield management and its effect on green leaf volatiles (GLVs) in wines has seldom been studied. GLVs are important flavor compositions for grapes and wines. This work aimed to investigate the impact of cluster thinning on these volatiles and their precursors in grapes and wines. Severe cluster thinning (CT1) and medium cluster thinning (CT2) were performed on Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) vines in two sites (G-farm and Y-farm) from Xinjiang province in the Northwest of China. The impact of cluster thinning treatments on the accumulation of GLVs and their precursors, long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) of grape berries and C6 volatiles, in resulting wines was investigated. Multivariate analysis showed that cluster thinning treatments induced significant changes in fruit and wine composition in both farms. In Y-farm, medium cluster thinning (CT2) significantly increased the average cluster weight of harvested berries. Additionally, both cluster thinning treatments (CT1 and CT2) increased fatty acids in harvested berries and CT2 led to an increase in C6 esters and a decrease in C6 alcohols in the wines of Y-farm under the warmer and drier 2012 vintage. However, the effect of cluster thinning was likely negative in G-farm due to its wetter soil and excessive organic matter. The treatments may be applicable for local grape growers to improve viticultural practices for the more balanced vegetative and reproductive growth of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. This work also provided further knowledge on the regulation of fatty acids and the derived C6 volatiles through the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root distribution and water uptake of irrigated vines (Vitis vinifera L.) in arid oasis areas remain poorly understood, particularly in terms of the variations in water uptake resulting from plant type and growing period. In this study, excavation and soil coring were employed to investigate the root distribution of vines. Meanwhile, the water uptake dynamics of irrigated vines in an arid oasis area were developed using stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water bodies (δD and δ18O) and in crops and soil water, coupled with a direct inference approach and a linear mixed model (IsoSource). The soil layers were divided into nine layers via hierarchical cluster analysis. The results indicated that the vertical distributions of the total and fine roots of grapevines were mainly in the range of 40–160 cm, accounting for 93.1% (91.2%) and 92.5% (90.0%) of the total root (200 cm) distribution during May and October, respectively. In the horizontal direction, both the total root and fine root systems were mainly distributed within 0–100 cm from the trunk and contributed 81.2% and 79.8% of the total root distribution, respectively. Meanwhile, both the total root weight (length) density and fine root weight (length) density decreased gradually with increasing radial distance from the trunk in the 0–80 cm range. The main water uptake of vines was at 0–40 cm in June, 20–80 cm in July, and 40–100 cm in August. These findings suggest that the main depth of root water uptake increases during the whole growth stage for grapevines in arid oasis ecosystems. This information will help growers to improve irrigation efficiency and provide a data analysis of water conservation in an arid oasis area during water stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis zhejiang-adstricta (V. zhejiang-adstricta) is one of the most important and endangered wild grapes. It is a national key protected wild, rare and endangered ancient grape endemic to China and used as a candidate material for resistance breeding owing to its excellent significant disease resistance. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-level assembly of V. zhejiang-adstricta (IB-VB-01), comprising 506.66 Mb assembled into 19 pseudo-chromosomes. The contig N50 length is 3.91 Mb with 31,196 annotated protein-coding genes. Comparative genome and evolutionary analyses illustrated that V. zhejiang-adstricta has a specific position in the evolution of East Asian Vitis and shared a common ancestor with Vitis vinifera during the divergence of the two species about 10.42 (between 9.34 and 11.12) Mya. The expanded gene families compared with those in plants were related to disease resistance, and constructed gene families were related to plant growth and primary metabolism. With the analysis of gene family expansion and contraction, the evolution of environmental adaptability and especially the NBS-LRR gene family of V. zhejiang-adstricta was elucidated based on the pathways of resistance genes (R genes), unique genes and structural variations. The near-complete and accurate diploid V. zhejiang-adstricta reference genome obtained herein serves as an important complement to wild grape genomes and will provide valuable genomic resources for investigating the genomic architecture of V. zhejiang-adstricta as well as for improving disease resistance breeding strategies in grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of red hue in dry red wine has been a persistent issue for wine enterprises in western China. We investigated the changes in anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin phenols during the industrial-scale fermentation and one-year bottle aging of Vitis vinifera L. Merlot and Vitis vinifera L. Marselan, respectively, using the grapes in the Ningxia region. We also examined their correlation with color characterization. The study found that both anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin phenolics were rapidly extracted from grapes during alcohol fermentation. However, their concentrations decreased rapidly during malolactic fermentation. On the other hand, Vitisin A and Vitisin B were formed during alcoholic fermentation and decreased slowly from malolactic fermentation to storage period. Directly polymerized pigments (F-A and A-F), bridged polymerized pigments (A-e-F), and flavanyl-pyranoanthocyanins (A-v-F) from the reactions of anthocyanins (A) and flavan-3-ols (F), as well as pinotins were generated during the later stages of alcoholic fermentation, and remained at a high level throughout malolactic fermentation and bottle storage. Partial least squares regression and Pearson correlation analyses revealed that the red hue (a* value) of 'Merlot' and 'Marselan' wines was closely associated with monomeric anthocyanins and F-A type pigments. Furthermore, four pinotin components were positively correlated with the red hue (a* value) of 'Merlot' wine. These primary red components of the two varieties had a positive correlation with the level of flavan-3-ols. The data suggest that elevating the flavan-3-ol concentration during fermentation aids in improving the color stability of red wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between soil nutrients and berry quality for the wine grape Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Franc in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, and subsequently to optimize soil nutrient conditions for optimal berry quality, thus providing guidance for vineyard soil management. Based on the basic data on soil nutrients and berry quality indicators, a partial least squares regression method was used to screen for major soil nutrient factors affecting the grape quality index. Then, the selected soil nutrient factors were taken as independent variables and the corresponding grape quality indicators were taken as dependent variables and a multilinear regression equation was formulated by the method of multivariate linear regression. Finally, the optimal solution for fruit quality and soil nutrients was solved using linear programming equations. The results showed that there was a lack of total nitrogen, organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the soil nutrients, and an alkaline soil. There is a significant positive correlation between some soil nutrient indices, and there is also a multivariate linearity problem. Among all berry quality indices, titratable acid, tannin, and anthocyanin were negatively correlated with eleven and ten soil indices, respectively, while other berry quality indices were positively correlated with most soil nutrient indices. The optimal parameters for grape quality were determined using the method of linear programming equations, and the corresponding soil nutrient indicators content were defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape rain-shelter cultivation is a widely employed practice in China. At present, the most commonly used rain shelter film materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and polyolefin (PO). Coverlys TF150® is a woven fabric with an internal antifoggy PE coating that has not yet been popularized as a rain shelter film for grapes in China. To investigate the effects of Coverlys TF150® on grapes, we measured the microdomain environment, leaf development, and photosynthetic characteristics of 'Miguang' (Vitis vinifera × V. labrusca) under rain-shelter cultivation and performed transcriptome analysis. The results showed that Coverlys TF150® significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the light intensity, temperature, and humidity compared with PO film, increased the chlorophyll content and leaf thickness (particularly palisade tissue thickness), and increased stomatal density and stomatal opening from 10:00 to 14:00. Coverlys TF150® was observed to improve the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qP), the electron transfer rate (ETR), and the actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) from 10:00 to 14:00. Moreover, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) of grape leaves significantly increased (p < 0.05) from 10:00 to 14:00. RNA-Seq analysis of the grape leaves at 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 revealed 1388, 1562, and 1436 differential genes at these points in time, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis showed the occurrence of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interaction were identified as the metabolic pathways with the highest differential gene expression enrichment. The psbA encoding D1 protein was significantly up-regulated in both CO10vsPO10 and CO12vsPO12, while the sHSPs family genes were significantly down-regulated in all time periods, and thus may play an important role in the maintenance of the photosystem II (PSII) activity in grape leaves under Coverlys TF150®. Compared with PO film, the PSI-related gene psaB was up-regulated, indicating the ability of Coverlys TF150® to better maintain PSI activity. Compared with PO film, the abolic acid receptacle-associated gene PYL1 was down-regulated at all time periods under the Coverlys TF150® treatment, while PP2C47 was significantly up-regulated in CO10vsPO10 and CO12vsPO12, inducing stomatal closure. The results reveal that Coverlys TF150® alleviates the stress of high temperature and strong light compared with PO film, improves the photosynthetic capacity of grape leaves, and reduces the midday depression of photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suboptimal light stress in grapevines is increasing worldwide with the spread of grapevine cultivation, which can affect grapevine physiology and productivity, such as in Southern China. Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone in plant adaptive responses to abiotic stress, including low light stress. However, ABA signaling pathway genes (APGs) are not well characterized in the grapevine, and little is known of their potentially mitigating role in grapevine growth under weak light stress. Our study aimed to explore the potential role of the ABA signaling pathway in the response of grapevines to suboptimal light conditions. In this study, APGs were identified in the grapevine genome, and the distribution of conserved motifs was shown to reflect their phylogenetic relationships. Gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication was an important driver for gene expansion in the grapevine ABA signaling pathway. Suboptimal conditions of light were shown to seriously affect the growth of grapevine leaves and berries, with the differential regulation of APGs in the grapevine. Our study summarizes the basic characteristics of APGs in grapevine, which can now be examined further for their roles in grapevine's response to suboptimal light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The myeloblastosis (MYB) superfamily is the largest transcription factor family in plants that play diverse roles during stress responses. However, the biotic stress-responsive MYB transcription factors of the grapevine have not been systematically studied. In China, grapevine berries are often infected with the grapevine berry inner necrosis virus (GINV), which eventually reduces the nutritional quality and commodity value. Results: The present study identified and characterized 265 VvMYB or VvMYB-related genes of the "Crimson seedless" grapevine. Based on DNA-binding domain analysis, these VvMYB proteins were classified into four subfamilies, including MYB-related, 2R-MYB, 3R-MYB, and 4R-MYB. Phylogenetic analysis divided the MYB transcription factors into 26 subgroups. Overexpression of VvMYB58 suppressed GINV abundance in the grapevine. Further qPCR indicated that among 41 randomly selected VvMYB genes, 12 were induced during GINV infection, while 28 were downregulated. These findings suggest that VvMYB genes actively regulate defense response in the grapevine. Conclusion: A deeper understanding of the MYB TFs engaged in GINV defense response will help devise better management strategies. The present study also provides a foundation for further research on the functions of the MYB transcription factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Vitis vinifera L. 'Cabernet Gernischt' grapes from the Yantai wine region of China usually form dense clusters and contain low phenolic content. We applied five concentrations (ranged from 5 to 25 mg L-1) of gibberellic acid (GA3) to 'Cabernet Gernischt' before anthesis to decrease cluster compactness in two consecutive vintages. Yield indices, grape maturity, and wine phenolic compounds were determined. RESULTS: GA3 application significantly reduced cluster compactness, bunch weight, and yield per vine, but it did not significantly improve fruit ripening. The levels of total phenolics, total tannins, and total anthocyanins in wine were enhanced by GA3 application, with 10 and 15 mg L-1 GA3 treatments consistently producing a significant increase in the concentrations of mavidin, cyanidin, and their derivatives. Specifically, trans-resveratrol was consistently significantly increased by 15 mg L-1 GA3 application. Principal component analysis of phenolic compounds demonstrated the differences among wines produced from GA3 treatment groups and the control. CONCLUSION: Overall, wine phenolic profiles could be significantly modified by application of low concentrations of GA3 before anthesis. Application of high levels of GA3 is not recommended due to significant yield decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil clearing operation can be one of the most challenging steps in the wine industry in recent years. The low efficiency can often be found in the single-layer rotary throwing during the soil cleaning operation of wine grapes in northwest China. It is still lacking in the interaction with the soil particles in cold soil, due to empirical design. In this study, a layered rotary throwing soil remover was designed to clarify the interaction between the soil and the rotary throwing knife. The rotary throwing cutter was then realized to balance the different functions of the upper and lower rotary throwing cutters. A dynamic analysis was carried out to determine the overall size of rotary throwing knives using RecurDyn software. Among them, the RecurDyn was a new generation of simulation software for multi-body system dynamics. The movement of the rotary throwing soil cleaning machine was theoretically analyzed to determine the main factors affecting the power consumption and throwing distance of rotary throwing knives. Specifically, the trapezoidal soil ridges in the cross section of 1 000 mm× 600 mm×300 mm ×300 mm (Length × Bottom bottom × Upper bottom × height) were established in the EDEM, according to the agronomic requirements of wine grape planting and soil cleaning. The coupled EDEM and RecurDyn simulation was conducted to analyze the interaction between the discrete particle group of cold-proof soil and the rotary throwing knife. Among them, the test factors were taken as the rotating speed of the rotary throwing knives with the different welding angles, and the forward speed of the whole machine. The evaluation indexes were set as the influence of the soil removal amount and the torque of the rotary throwing knife. An optimal combination of parameters was then obtained after optimization. Then, a three-factor four-level orthogonal experiment was designed to verify the reliability of the model using the analysis of variance. Further verification was also made using a bench test. A series of parameters were also selected in the bench test, including the cleaning rate of the machine, and the torque during operation under the conditions of different welding angles, the rotating and forward speeds, as well as the optimal combination under the conditions of various parameters. The results show that an optimal combination was achieved, where the the soil removal rate was 49.1%, the torque of the rotary throwing knife was 13.09 N·m, and the soil throwing distance was concentrated between 1.52-1.75 m, particularly when the welding angle of the rotary throwing knife was 30°, the rotating speed of the knife was 270 r/min, and the forward speed was 0.4 m/s. Excellent consistency was also obtained with the simulation and experimental. The findings can also provide the theoretical basis and technical reference for the subsequent development of grapevine soil cleaning and vine lifting machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some wine regions of China, Cabernet Gernischt (CG; Vitis vinifera L.) grape berries usually exhibit low pigment content and titratable acidity, and low sensory quality of the resulting wine. The aim of this study was to evaluate co‐winemaking of CG wines using the red grape cultivar Beibinghong (BBH; Vitis amurensis Rupr.) at different proportions in terms of alcohols, phenolic compounds, and sensory properties of the wines. The results showed that the co‐winemaking wines contained a similar content of higher alcohols, whereas the methanol content increased with an increase in BBH proportion, although this was still corresponded with the national standard. Significantly higher levels of titratable acidity were observed in co‐winemaking wines at the ratio of 6:4 and 5:5, compared with monocultivar CG wines. All co‐winemaking wines, except CG:BBH (9:1) wine, showed significantly higher levels of total anthocyanins, total phenolics, total tannins, and total flavan‐3‐ols. Further, individual phenolics, primarily diglucoside anthocyanins and non‐anthocyanins (trans‐ferulic acid, myricetin, viniferin, trans‐caffeic acid, 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid), as important contributors to wine color intensity, permitted the differentiation of the wines via principal component analysis. In most cases, co‐winemaking wines exhibited higher scores of the 10 sensory attributes on color, aroma, mouthfeel, and overall quality compared with monocultivar wines. Co‐winemaking CG wines with BBH at 7:3 ratio demonstrated the highest scores of color intensity, aroma intensity, aroma quality, and overall quality. The results indicate that co‐winemaking with V. amurensis grape variety may be useful to enhance V. vinifera wine quality by modifying wine composition. Practical Application: Cabernet Gernischt (CG) is the predominant grape cultivar used to prepare premium‐quality wine in China; however, in some wine regions, CG wines have low levels of pigment and titratable acidity, and low sensory quality. Co‐winemaking with another native grape cultivar, Beibinghong (BBH), which is characterized by a higher content of anthocyanins and acidity, provided sufficient experimental evidence of adjustments in the Vitis vinifera wine composition leading to improved wine sensory quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spine grape (Vitis davidii Foëx), an important wild grape species in South China, has gained attention because of its health-promoting effects and use in the wine industry. Fruit quality plays an important role in determining the quality of wine; however, a suitable evaluation system to monitor its fruit quality has not been established. The fruit quality characteristics (phenolics and aromas) of 15 spine grapes grown in China were evaluated using a combination of principal component and cluster analyses. The total sugar, organic acid, and phenolic content ranged from 81.80 to 154.89 mg·g-1, 8.02 to 15.48 mg·g-1, and 5.58 to 20.12 mg·g-1, respectively. The comprehensive assessment by principal component analysis revealed that ‘Red xiangzhenzhu’ had the highest quality and ‘Hongjiangci10’ and ‘Ziluolan’ the lowest quality. Cluster analysis using k-means grouped the cultivars into three clusters based on their quality: Cluster 1 grouped those with inferior quality (‘Hongjiangci09’, ‘Hongjiangci10’, ‘Hongjiangci11’, and ‘Hongjiangci07’, etc.), Cluster2 grouped those with average quality (‘Ciputao3#,’ ‘Ziluolan’, and ‘Xiangci4#’), and Cluster3 grouped those with superior quality (‘Red xiangzhenzhu’ and ‘Green xiangzhenzhu’). A combination of principal component analysis and cluster analysis provides a comprehensive and objective evaluation system for determining the quality of grape cultivars. This study is important for the systematic evaluation and utilization of spine grape resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape ripe rot (Colletotrichum viniferum) causes huge losses in grape production in vineyards in southern China. However, the molecular mechanism against ripe rot in grape species and the responsive genes implicated in these processes are relatively unknown. Here, we present the transcriptome analysis of berries from a C. viniferum-resistant species (Vitis davidii Föex). Uninfected berries at day zero were used as control samples (CK), an inoculation was made at day zero, and the berries were subsequently analyzed at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days post inoculation (dpi), which exhibited a sequential disease-progression stage. There were a total of 1810 differentially expressed genes, including 1315 up-regulated and 495 down-regulated transcripts. At 7 dpi, these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly enriched in berries. In addition, in C. viniferum-infected grape fruits at 7 dpi, considerable changes in gene expression were induced, and those up-regulated genes involved in MAPK cascade, calcium ion binding, and serine/threonine kinase activity were enriched. According to our KEGG pathway analysis, numerous enriched biological processes, such as plant–pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and metabolism, were implicated in grape–fungus interactions. Our research also revealed alterations in the expression pattern of phenylalanine-pathway-related transcription factors (TFs) and genes. We proposed a model in which C. viniferum invasion produces intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ deregulation to stimulate the MAPK pathway to activate TFs' (WRKY, ERF, and MYB) up-regulation, thus initiating disease-resistant responses in the tolerant Vitis species. Our results offer comprehensive transcriptomic data about molecular responses in C. viniferum-infected grape, and these data will aid in understanding of processes underlying plant responses to C. viniferum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rootstocks are commonly utilized owing to their resistance to abiotic and biotic stress in viticulture. This study evaluated the effects of three rootstocks (1103P, SO4, and 5A) on the Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) vine growth, and their berries and wines flavonoids profiles in four consecutive vintages. The results showed that 1103P increased the pruning weight of CS and decreased the anthocyanin concentration in berries and wines, especially in the vintages with more rainy and cloudy days. 5A tended to decrease the pruning weight of CS and increase the anthocyanin concentration in berries and wines. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that the concentrations of total anthocyanins, F3'H-anthocyanins, malvidin-3-O-glucoside (Mv-glu), and malvidin-3-O-acetylglucoside (Mv-acglu) were the key substances affected by the rootstocks in CS berries and were significantly decreased by 1103P. Total anthocyanins, pinotins, Mv-glu, epicatechin, and vitisins were the rootstocksensitive compounds that commonly differed in wines among the three comparison groups in the two vintages. Furthermore, 1103P brought more brightness to the wine and 5A gave the wine more red tones. In conclusion, rootstock 5A was recommended in the rainy and cloudy climate regions with regard to the berry flavonoids accumulation and the wine color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape (Vitis vinifera) is one of the most widely spread and the largest productive fruit crops in the world. It can be eaten fresh as the table grapes, or used for making wine, jam, and juice. A high productive of grapes is also found in China. For instance, 14.8 million tons of grapes were produced, and the area under the grape cultivation was 7.68×104 hm2 in China in 2020. The yield and planting area of grape have been ranked at first and second around the world, respectively. There are many pruned grape vine stalks every year, particularly with the development of the grape industry. Grape vine stalks are rich in the lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, in order to serve as the renewable biomass resource with the high content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic nutrients. However, the utilization rate of grape vine stalks is very low, leading to the waste of biomass resources and environmental pollution. Large-scale utilization and development of grape vine stalks can greatly contribute to the low-carbon economic development, ecological civilization construction, and energy revolution. In addition, it is of great significance to ensure the national strategies implementation in China, such as the beautiful villages’ construction, the goal of “carbon neutrality”, and global climate change. Therefore, this study aims to focus mainly on the general goal of comprehensive utilization of pruned grape vine stalks. Currently, the grape vine stalks are mainly used as the fertilizer, fuel and raw material. Among them, the fertilizer can be mainly divided into returning to the field directly after crushing, and composting. Besides, the aqueous extract and biochar from the grape vine stalks can be applied as the foliar fertilizer and soil amendment, respectively. In fuel, the grape vine stalks have the high energy storage suitable for the production of biomass fuels. The energy potential of biomass resources was also evaluated to identify the fuel convention mode. Moreover, the fuel convention mode of grape vine stalks was divided into the direct combustion, gasification, liquefaction, and carbonization. In raw material, the high value and performance of products were made from the grape vine stalk, due to the richness in biomass contents. Nowadays, the grape vine stalks are used as raw material for the research hotspot. The main utilization modes include the high-value compound extract, study making, particle board manufacturing, and active carbon preparation. A series of investigations were conducted to extract the high-value compounds, such as phenolic, oligosaccharides, reducing sugar, and protein. The extraction included the conventional way, ultrasonic adjunct, microwave-assisted, solid-liquid, superheated liquid, and high-voltage electrical discharges. Overall, the integrated utilization of grape vine stalks is the reasonable way as the renewable energy sources for the sustainable development of resources, environment and economy. Finally, the existing approaches were summarize to evaluate the development prospects for the comprehensive utilization of grape vine stalks. This review can provide a strong reference for the high value and efficiency integrated utilization of grape vine stalks, in order to promote the green and sustainable development of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rain-shelter cultivation could protect grape berries from many diseases and affect grape berry quality. However, there have been few studies of the effects of rainshelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grapes grown in Yunnan Province. Therefore, the goal of this research was to explore the effects of rain-shelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries during development. The Shuijing grapes used during this study were grown in the Yunnan Province of southwest China in two consecutive vintages (2018 and 2019). The results showed that rainshelter cultivation promoted grape ripening and inhibited volatiles synthesis in Shuijing grape berries. However, the application of rain shelters did not affect the accumulation patterns of volatiles; instead, it affected the concentrations of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries, especially during the maturation phase [12-15 weeks after flowering (WAF)]. The concentrations of isoprenoid-derived volatiles (2019), fatty acid-derived volatiles, and amino acid-derived benzenoids in Shuijing grape berries were decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the maturation phase. The concentration of 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy3(2H)-furanone (mesifurane) was also decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the late maturation phase (14 and 15 WAF). A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the vintage had a much greater influence on the physicochemical parameters and volatiles of the Shuijing grape berries than the cultivation method. This work reveals the formation and accumulation patterns of volatiles of Shuijing grape berries under rainshelter cultivation during development and has significance for exploring the potential of rain-shelter cultivation in grape-producing regions with excessive rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Use the grape germplasm unique to China that is resistant to white rot disease, V. davidii Foex. 0941 as experimental materials. • By combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, changes in genes and metabolites are studied in disease-resistant and disease-susceptible varieties after infection by fungus. • Analysis reveals that the flavonoid metabolic pathway plays a significant role in the disease resistance of V. davidii Foex. 0941. Grape white rot is a devastating disease caused by Coniella diplodiella (Speg.) Sacc. The wild Chinese grape variety Vitis davidii Foex. 0941 (V. davidii) exhibits strong resistance to this disease, which is crucial for the utilization of wild resources in developing new disease-resistant cultivars. However, the underlying mechanism of V. davidii' s resistance remains unclear. In this study, we collected berries from the disease-resistant V. davidii and the disease-susceptible Vitis vinifera 'Manicure Finger' (V. vinifera) after inoculation with the grape white rot fungus. Through transcriptome and metabolome analyses, we observed that in the berries of V. davidii , metabolites associated with flavonoid metabolism, including naringenin, tricetin, eriodictyol, luteolin, dihydrokaempferol, myricetin, and syringetin, are significantly enriched compared to those in V. vinifera. Moreover, core genes involved in flavonoid metabolism (F3′5′H, F3′H, PAL, FLS) are expressed at higher levels in V. davidii. We have also identified several candidate genes associated with flavonoids, including flavonoid 3′,5′-methyltransferase-like, cellulose synthase-like protein E6, and flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase 2, which are highly expressed in V. davidii. This finding was further validated by qRT-PCR analysis, which also revealed higher expression levels of these genes in the resistant variety. Collectively, these results suggest that flavonoid compounds may play a key role in the resistance of V. davidii to Coniella diplodiella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern foot of Helan Mountains in Ningxia belongs to the semiarid area and has been identified as the best wine grape producing area in China. In order to solve the problems of a high sugar content, organic acid falling too fast and severe shortage of acidity in the berries during ripening, which lead to lack of wine harmony, this study took Vitis. vinifera L. cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' as the experimental material and expanded nine treatments from setting to harvest. Nine rows were selected and divided into three groups, treated with mild (-0.20 MPa ≥ Ψb ≥ -0.40 MPa), moderate (-0.40 MPa ≥ Ψb ≥ --0.60 MPa), severe (Ψb ≥ -0.60 MPa) water stress from setting to veraison separately. From veraison to harvest, within each group, the mild, moderate, severe water stress were set, forming light-light (CK), light-medium (T1), light-heavy (T2), medium-light (T3), medium-medium (T4), medium-heavy (T5), heavy-light (T6), heavy-medium (T7), heavy-heavy (T8) treatments. The results showed that when the medium treatment was used from setting to veraison and the medium or severe treatment was used during post-veraison to harvest, it would facilitate the transportation and accumulation of sugar and improve the fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering crops was a commonly used viticultural technique to adjust the vineyard microclimate, thus affecting the grape and wine quality. In this two-year study, the purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) was used to cover the lands between rows in the vineyards located in the semi-arid Northwest China, Xinjiang. Results showed that the photosynthetically active radiation around the fruit zone and the temperature with the purslane covering treatment decreased. Compared with the clean tillage, covering purslane had lower TSS and higher TA in the grape berries, while lower alcohol content and higher TA was also found in their corresponding wines. Covering purslane treatment significantly increased the contents of anthocyanin and flavonol in the grapes and wines in the year 2018, but no significant effect on flavanols was observed in the wines. Norisoprenoids, esters, and C6 alcohols in the grapes and wines were increased in the purslane covering treatment, respectively. Additionally, compared to the clean tillage, the purslane covering treatment significantly improved the sensory value of the wines, especially the floral aroma and the complexity of the wines. This study helped us to better understand the feasibility of applying covering purslane in viticulture in the semi-arid climate of Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of grape varieties with cold resistance can be an advantage for the wine industry. 'Beimei', an interspecific hybrid wine grape variety with cold resistance and pleasant rose aroma, is now extensively cultivated in China. In the present study, the berry quality traits and metabolites of 'Beimei' and other "Bei" varieties were characterized. The sugar (234 g/L–391 g/L) and acid (6.2–8.3 g/L) contents of 'Beimei' and four additional "Bei" varieties, i.e., 'Beihong', 'Beixi', 'Beixin', and 'Xinbeichun' berries were smilar to that of traditional Vitis vinifera varieties. 'Beimei' grapes has the highest volatile compounds composition, especially the content of rose aroma compounds (2-phenyl-ethyl alcohol and neryl alcohol), which was significantly higher than that of the other "Bei" wine grape varieties. After fermentation, 'Beimei' wines showed improved quality, with a high resveratrol content (18 mg/L) compared to traditional Eurasian wines. In addition, the high content of main rose aroma compounds (acetic acid 2-phenylethyl acetate, phenylethyl alcohol, neryl alcohol and beta-damascenone) contribute to a pleasant rose aroma in 'Beimei' wines. In summary, these results indicate that 'Beimei' grapes could be used as a winemaking grape variety considering global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil burial is a survival strategy for grapevines that can safely overwinter in north-western regions of China. A suitable training system was beneficial for soil burial to provide winter protection. Moreover, the training system can also significantly affect fruit quality during the development of grape berries, such as primary and secondary metabolites. In this study, four-year-old Cabernet Gernischt grapevines were used as experimental material and exposed to four training systems, including the Ningxia traditional vertical trunk (control, CK); the gobelet (T1); single guyot (T2); slant trunk with vertical shoot positioning (STVSP) (T3). The results showed that total soluble solid total phenol content was 12.69%, 57% higher under T3 training systems than in the control, and T3 alleviated the canopy density, leading to improving the leaf photosynthetic efficiency gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) assay used to detect the aroma compounds. The results indicated that the T3 training system enhanced the accumulation of alcohols, carbonyl compounds, C6/C9 and esters, which account for the largest proportion of volatile compounds, and the qRT-PCR reveals that VvEcar, Vvter, VvCCD1, and VvLis were raised under T3 at the transcriptional level. Moreover, T3 contributes to most free amino acid synthesis. Additionally, the PCA reveals the correlation of free amino acids under four training systems, which reflected the mostly amino acid related to T3, and thus, we could speculate that T3 enhances the overall aroma. These results may lead to new strategies to select a new, short trunk training system to achieve mechanized buried soil, to prevent cold and produce high-quality wine in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the interactions between different irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilization rates and their effects on the 15N fertilizer absorption and utilization of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines in a vineyard near Xinjiang, China. The fertilizer treatments consisted of three 15N-labeled urea nitrate fertilizer applications (191.4, 254.4, and 317.4 kg/ha). The irrigation treatments included two fractions (0.75 and 1.0) of estimated vineyard water use (ETc). The results showed that: (i) the residual amount of 15N fertilizer in the soil was mainly in the surface layer (0–20 cm), the residual fertilizer N in the surface layer accounted for 68–87% of the total residual N, the residual 15N fertilizer at different depths differed significantly, and the residual 15N was positively correlated with the amount of fertilizer applied (p < 0.05); (ii) The absorption of fertilizer N by grapevines accounted for only 12–17% of the total N absorption, and the proportion absorbed from soil N was as high as 82–87%. There was no significant difference in the amount of N absorbed between different water and fertilizer treatments; (iii) The 15N uptake under the different water and fertilizer treatments differed and was significantly higher in the roots than in other organs, followed by the fruit, the leaves, and finally, the stems. Our results provide a reference for improving the soil environment and encouraging a sustainable development of the grape industry. According to the experimental results, it was recommended that farmers adopt irrigation levels of 1.0 ETc and fertilizer application of 254.4 kg N/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental conditions of wine regions determine the flavor characteristics of wine. The characterization of the chemical composition and sensory profiles of young Marselan wines from five wine-producing regions in China was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS), high-performance liquid chromatography–triple-quadrupole MS/MS and descriptive analysis. Young Marselan wines can be successful discriminated based on concentrations of volatile compounds, but not phenolic compounds, by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis according to regions. Compared to Jiaodong Peninsula (JDP) and Bohai Bay (BHB) regions, there were relatively lower average concentrations of varietal volatiles (mainly including β-citronellol, geraniol, and (E)-β-damasenone) and several fermentation aroma compounds (including isoamyl acetate, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, ethyl decanoate, etc.) but higher levels of acetic acid in Xinjiang (XJ), Loess Plateau (LP), and Huaizhuo Basin (HZB) regions, which were related to their characteristic environmental conditions. Marselan wines from HZB, LP, and XJ regions were characterized by lower L values and higher a and Cab values. Marselan wines from XJ were discriminated from the wines from other regions due to their higher concentrations of several flavonols. Sensory analysis indicated that Marselan wines from HZB region were characterized by relatively low intensities of floral and fruity aromas compared to other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape ( Vitis vinifera),is one of the most important fruit trees, and the genetic breeding of grape has been paid much attention. Due to the long childhood and high genetic heterozygosity, traditional cross breeding takes a long time and low efficiency. Therefore, by constructing grape genetic linkage map and locating quantitative traits loci (QTL), we can analyze the relationship between molecular markers and phenotype in grape hybrid population, select breeding parents more pertinently, early identify future hybrid population, carry out marker assisted selectio (MAS), and speed up the breeding process. With the development of molecular biology and genome sequencing technology, more and more QTL had been analyzed since gene mapping was carried out in 2000. This paper reviewed the QTL mapping of important genes found in grape in recent 20 years, such as downy mildew resistance, powdery mildew resistance, phylloxera resistance, berry size, seedless, skin color and so on, and focused on the mapping of Myb gene related to grape color traits and its application in MAS, in order to explore the key genes related to the formation and regulation of resistance and quality traits in grape germplasm resources, promote the progress of grape molecular designed breeding, which would contribute to the rapid improvement of grape breeding level in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most grapevine planting regions, especially in south of China, plenty of rainfall and high water level underground are the characteristic of the area, a series of problem during fruit ripening easily caused poor color quality. Thereby affecting fruit quality, yield and economic benefits. The accumulation of anthocyanin is regulated by transcriptional regulatory factor and a series of cultivation measures, root restriction can make plants in the environment of stress and stress relief, root restriction induced the higher expression of VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 , and consistent with anthocyanin accumulation. Whether and how root restriction-inducible VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 transcription factor regulate anthocyanin synthesis in grape berry is still unclear. In this study, we identified that the transient overexpression of VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 alone or both in strawberry fruits and grape berries can promote anthocyanin accumulation and increase the expression level of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, indicating VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 play a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Furthermore, we confirmed that both VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 specifically bind to the promoter region of VvF3 ′ 5 ′ H and VvUFGT , and the expression of VvF3 ′ 5 ′ H and VvUFGT is further activated through the heterodimer formation between VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40. Finally, we confirmed that VvMYB15 promoted anthocyanin accumulation by interacting with VvWRKY40 in grape berries, our findings provide insights into a mechanism involving the synergistic regulation of root restriction-dependent coloration and biosynthesis via a VvMYB15 and VvWRKY40 alone or both in grape berries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) that produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase are capable of reducing limits to plant growth due to water-deficient conditions. Here, seven PGPR strains that can produce ACC deaminase were successfully obtained from the rhizosphere soil of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in arid regions of China. The strains belonged to three different genera: Pseudomonas , Enterobacter , and Achromobacter , according to their 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. A drought tolerance experiment revealed two PGPR strains (DR3 and DR6) with exceptionally high phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indoleacetic acid (IAA), and exopolysaccharides secretion potential. Both strains were selected for use in a pot experiment to evaluate their growth-promoting effects on grapevines under drought conditions. Each of these two PGPRs and their mixed inoculation into grapevines were expected to alleviate the comprehensive growth inhibition of grapevines caused by drought stress. The mixed inoculation was hypothesized to elicit the best growth-promoting effects. Inoculation with the PGPRs not only enhanced the root-adhering soil/root tissue ratios and soil aggregate stability, but it also increased the nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the soil and plant leaves. Further, inoculation with PGPRs significantly altered the plant height, biomass of shoot and root organs, relative water contents, and net photosynthetic rate of leaves, enabling grapevines to better cope with drought. Moreover, the contents of IAA, abscisic acid, and malondialdehyde in these grapevines under drought stress were significantly changed by PGPRs. They indirectly affected biochemical and physiological properties of grapevines to alleviate their drought stress. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the DR3 and DR6 PGPRs might be useful for effectively weakening the growth inhibition caused by drought in grapevines. The strains might also be applied as effective bioinoculants to maintain the quality of wine grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are the most destructive diseases in grape-growing regions worldwide. Black foot is one of the important GTDs affecting young vineyards and nurseries. This disease has not been reported in China. During 2017 and 2019, field surveys were carried out in the Guangxi, Hebei, Ningxia, Shanxi, and Xinjiang provinces of China. Incidence of plants with black foot symptoms was 0.1% to 1% in the surveyed vineyards. Plant samples with poorly developed shoots and canes, chlorotic leaves, and necrotic trunks or roots were collected from the five provinces. In total, 50 fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic tissues. Based on morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, five species were identified as Cylindrocladiella lageniformis, Dactylonectria torresensis, D. macrodidyma, D. alcacerensis and Neonectria sp.1. Pathogenicity was assessed using young, healthy detached green shoots of grapevine 'Summer Black' and potted 3-month-old 'Summer Black' cuttings. Inoculated detached shoots developed necroses after 7 d, and inoculated cuttings after 80 d. Fungi were re-isolated from necrotic lesions. Among the five species, D. macrodidyma was the most aggressive. This is the first report of C. lageniformis, D. torresensis, D. macrodidyma, D. alcacerensis, and Neonectria sp. 1 associated with black foot in China. This study has enhanced knowledge of the fungi associated with black foot in China, and will assist development of control measures for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnolia officinalis is a famous traditional medicinal plant, belonging to the Magnoliaceae family and Magnolia L. genus and being widely cultivated in China. Its barks, root barks, branch barks, leaves, flowers and fruits could be used as medicine or food. However, the whole genome information is little known for this plant species. In order to obtain the whole genome sequence information of M. officinalis, the leaf DNA was used as the material, and the third-generation sequencing technology of Pacbio Sequel was used to establish its nucleotide sequence database. Then genome assembly, function annotation and evolution analysis were carried out by bioinformatic methods. The results were as follows:(1)140.91 Gb the third-generation data were obtained after the original sequencing data, with the Read N50 about 13 784 bp. The assembled M. officinals genome size was 1.68 Gb, contig N50 being about 222 069 bp, and the integrity of single-copy gene being 81.0%.(2)98.40% of the genes from the assembled sequence got gene annotation after being compared with functional databases such as NR, KOG and KEGG. The result of KOG gene annotation was that the protein function of M. officinalis concentrated in the general functional prediction only, posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones signal transduction mechanisms. GO functional classification indicated that the genes of M. officinalis concentrated on cell components and biological processes. KEGG analysis found that the M. officinalis genes mostly involved in metabolic pathways.(3)By comparative genomics analysis, the genomes of Vitis vinifera, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Poplar trichocarpa, Ginkgo biloba, Amborella trichopoda, Camellia sinensis and Cinnamomum kanehirae were aligned. It was found that 20 801 of 23 424 genes in M. officinalis could be classified into 12 129 families, 515 gene families being unique to M. officinalis. The genetic evolution tree constructed from the genomes of the selected reference species pointed that the M. officinalis(Magnoliaceae)was closely related to Cinnamomum kanehirae(Lauraceae), and the divergence time between the two species was about 122.5 mya. It is the first time to use the third-generation sequencing technology to analyze the whole genome of M. officinalis in the study, which is conducive to its further development and utilization, and also provides the information for the study of the whole genome of other medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the recognition of Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitis adenoclada is morphologically similar to V. heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V. heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V. heyneana). Vitis adenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitis heyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V. davidii as the other parental species. Vitis adenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, ninety percent of the varieties of V. vinifera are protected from the cold by burying the vines for safe over-wintering, a labor-intensive practice that restricts the sustainable development of the grape and wine industry. An alternative solution is to breed cold-resistant varieties that can tolerate the local climatic conditions. The conventional cold-resistant breeding of grapes worldwide is mainly performed by the cross-breeding of wild species or V. labrusca and V. vinifera, so that new varieties obtain major cold-resistance genes from wild species or V. labrusca but maintain the high-quality genes of V. vinifera. However, there seems to be a close linkage between the major cold-resistance genes and the genes that control the poor characteristics of wild species or V. labrusca. The fruit traits of the hybrid progenies were unable to completely overcome the inheritance of the inferior traits of the wild parent or American parent. For grape genetic improvement for quality and disease-resistance, we propose use of minor-polygenes substitution and accumulation (MPSA) and intraspecific recurrent selection in V. vinifera (IRSV). "Ecolly" bred by this method has strong disease-, cold-, and drought- resistance, and is an excellent variety for brewing dry white wine and distilled spirits. At − 20 °C, the freezing damage degree of 50% winter buds of Ecolly ranged from 0.7 to 1.0, while the damage degree of Chardonnay ranged from 1.7 to 2.0. Thus, the variety is widely cultivated in many soil-burial over-wintering areas, but does not need to be buried to survive over-wintering. In summary, Ecolly is a successful case demonstrating the effectiveness of MPSA and IRSV for cold-resistance grape breeding, which provide a new thought for breeding new grapevine variety with cold resistance and quality brewing characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High throughput sequencing of small RNA and RT-PCR revealed that Vitis vinifera 'Kyoho', the main grapevine cultivar in Hangzhou, China, was co-infected with at least three viruses, namely grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), grapevine geminivirus A (GGVA), and grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), and five viroids, namely hop stunt viroid (HSVd), citrus viroid II (CVd-II), grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd-1), grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd-2), and citrus cachexia viroid (CCaVd). Additionally, two new isolates of citrus cachexia viroid, i. e. CCaVd-Kyoho-1 and CCaVd-Kyoho-2, were co-identified. These two isolates consist of 296 and 300 full nucleotides, respectively, with 2.7%–5.0% and 4.6%–6.9% variations individually compared to other CCaVd isolates, and 5.8%–6.1% variations to CVd-II and HSVd in the NCBI database. Point mutations in the form of transitions and transversions, A/T deletions, and A/C insertions were identified. These mutations were mainly distributed in the pathogenic and variation regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two local CCaVd isolates are located in the new evolution clade and could be new members of HSVd in the family Pospiviroidae existing in the grapevine cultivar 'Kyoho'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape white rot caused by Coniella diplodiella (Speg.) affects the production and quality of grapevine in China and other grapevine-growing countries. Despite the importance of C. diplodiella as a serious disease-causing agent in grape, the genome information and molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenicity are poorly understood. To bridge this gap, 40.93 Mbp of C. diplodiella strain WR01 was de novo assembled. A total of 9,403 putative protein-coding genes were predicted. Among these, 608 and 248 genes are potentially secreted proteins and candidate effector proteins (CEPs), respectively. Additionally, the transcriptome of C. diplodiella was analyzed after feeding with crude grapevine leaf homogenates, which reveals the transcriptional expression of 9,115 genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated that the highly enriched genes are related with carbohydrate metabolism and secondary metabolite synthesis. Forty-three putative effectors were cloned from C. diplodiella , and applied for further functional analysis. Among them, one protein exhibited strong effect in the suppression of BCL2-associated X (BAX)-induced hypersensitive response after transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. This work facilitates valuable genetic basis for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying C. diplodiella -grapevine interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ice grape skin samples from Harvest date 3 have the highest microbial diversity. • Vishniacozyma was firstly detected on Chinese ice grapes surface. • Delayed harvest of ice grapes has prominent advantage for fungal pathogen reduction. • Harvest period can positively regulate the microbial function of ice grape epidermis. Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine made from pressing grapes naturally frozen on the vines. The structure and metabolic characteristics of native microbial community dominated by organics and nutrients transformation in fermenting process of ice wine on the grape skin are likely to change due to climate events. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of harvest time on structure and metabolic characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities on Vidal ice grape surface. Vidal grape samples were picked between October and December in 2018; Harvest 1 (VG1): 14 October; Harvest 2 (VG2): 16 November; Harvest 3 (VG3): 18 December. Vishniacozyma , Alternaria , Cladosporium , Stenotrophomonas , unidentified_Cyanobacteria and Sphingomonas existed in all harvest dates and were the main genera widespread in most grape samples from the three harvest periods. Saprotrophic fungi and bacteria involved in metabolism were also dominant. For fungi, wood saprotrophs and unidentified saprotrophs were detected comprising Phoma , Didymella , Filobasidium and Clavaria. Delayed harvest of ice grapes has a distinct advantage for pathogen reduction compared with that of normally harvested grapes. Among bacteria, the most frequently occurring types in the metabolism category were energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism. In short, the harvest period can positively regulate the function of Vidal ice grape epidermal microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, has spread rapidly over the world with no known antiviral therapy or vaccine. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicine helped in flattening the pandemic curve in China. In this study, molecules from African medicinal plants were analysed as potential candidates against multiple SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic targets. Sixty-five molecules from the ZINC database subset (AfroDb Natural Products) were virtually screened with some reported repurposed therapeutics against six SARS-CoV-2 and two human targets. Molecular docking, druglikeness, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of the best hits were further simulated. Of the 65 compounds, only three, namely, 3-galloylcatechin, proanthocyanidin B1, and luteolin 7-galactoside found in almond (Terminalia catappa), grape (Vitis vinifera), and common verbena (Verbena officinalis), were able to bind to all eight targets better than the reported repurposed drugs. The findings suggest these molecules may play a role as therapeutic leads in tackling this pandemic due to their multitarget activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Gibberellic acid (GA3), a plant‐growth regulator, is often used to obtain enlarged table grape berries and induce seedlessness in them. However, the effects of GA3 on rachis elongation and bunch compactness have seldom been reported in wine‐grape production. We assessed the effects of GA3 spraying on wine‐grape inflorescences and bunches and their practical implications for viticulture in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China. RESULTS: Various GA3 concentrations were sprayed on field‐grown Vitis vinifera L. 'Cabernet Franc' (CF) and 'Cabernet Sauvignon' (CS) grapevines before anthesis in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, in 2015 and 2016. Inflorescence length during berry development was measured, and flavonoids and aroma compounds in the fruit were detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), respectively. For both cultivars, 50 and 100 mg L−1 GA3 caused significant elongation of the rachis, whereas there was no significant effect on inflorescence growth and berry seed number. Anthocyanin, flavonol, and flavan‐3‐ol levels in mature berries were not significantly influenced by GA3 spraying, whereas C13‐norisoprenoids were modified. CONCLUSION: The application of 50‐100 mg L−1 GA3 prior to grapevine anthesis caused elongation of inflorescences and bunches, and eased cluster compactness in CF and CS, and no negative effects were observed on the yield and seed numbers. The concentration and composition of flavonoids and most aroma compounds were not influenced, except that the norisoprenoids were increased by 50 mg L−1 GA3 applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a polymicrobial disease, sour rot decreases grape berry yield and wine quality. The diversity of microbial communities in sour rot-affected grapes depends on the cultivation site, but the microbes responsible for this disease in eastern coastal China, has not been reported. To identify the microbes that cause sour grape rot in this important grape-producing region, the diversity and abundance of bacteria and fungi were assessed by metagenomic analysis and cultivation-dependent techniques.Atotal of 15 bacteria and 10 fungi were isolated from sour rot-affected grapes. High-throughput sequencing of PCR-amplicons generated from diseased grapes revealed 1343 OTUs of bacteria and 1038 OTUs of fungi. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were dominant phyla among the 19 bacterial phyla identified. Ascomycota was the dominant fungal phylum and the fungi Issatchenkia terricola, Colletotrichum viniferum, Hanseniaspora vineae, Saprochaete gigas, and Candida diversa represented the vast majority ofmicrobial species associated with sour rot-affected grapes. An in vitro spoilage assay confirmed that four of the isolated bacteria strains (two Cronobacter species, Serratia marcescens and Lysinibacillus fusiformis) and five of the isolated fungi strains (three Aspergillus species, Alternaria tenuissima, and Fusarium proliferatum) spoiled grapes. These microorganisms, which appear responsible for spoiling grapes in eastern China, appear closely related to microbes that cause this plant disease around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of global warming, the climatic suitability for growing usual crops has been changing in certain regions. In this study, we focused on the Ningxia Plain in China, an important wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) growing region. Based on the daily average air temperature data from 1981 to 2017, we investigated changes in the planting boundaries of different climate zones for wine grape before and after 1997 (when an abrupt change in regional air temperature occurred). The goal of this study is to provide scientific evidence for local agricultural authorities to make long-term climate change adaptation plans. We used the effective accumulated temperature as an indicator to evaluate the inter-decadal changes in the climate zones for wine grape. We concluded as follows: (1) since the abrupt change in regional air temperature in 1997, the subtotal area of climate zone I for wine grape was reduced by 31%, while the subtotal area of climate zone II (moved southward) and III (part of climate zone II in the northern part of the region turned into climate zone III) for wine grape was expanded by 7% and 24%, respectively; (2) during the 1990s, climate zone III for wine grape emerged in the study region; during the 2000s, the planting boundaries of climate zone II and III moved southward; during the period of 2011–2017, climate zone I (suitable) for wine grape mostly vanished in the Ningxia Plain; and (3) since the abrupt change in regional air temperature in 1997, most of the area in the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains turned from climate zone II to climate zone III for wine grape, with the exceptions of Hongsipu district and the relatively high altitude area. During the 37 study years, most of the area in the study region remained as climate zone II for wine grape with a probability of 80%. Overall, the climate zones for wine grape in Ningxia, China have changed against the background of global warming. In particular, the wine grape varieties and wine types are expected to be changed in the Helan Mountains area in order to adapt to the ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, which is widely spread in the main soft-skinned fruits production areas in China, presents a threat to importing countries. In order to develop a phytosanitary cold treatment measure for preventing the movement of this drosophila fly, cold tolerance of six immature life stages of D. suzukii was compared followed by time-mortality and large-scale confirmatory tests on the most tolerant stage in grape fruit. Egg was defined as the most cold-tolerant stage by comparing the mortality of all the immature stages (egg, first, second, and third instars, early and late pupa) treated at 0 and 2°C. The minimal lethal time (LT) for 99.9968% mortality (95% confidence level [CL]) estimated by the probit model was 10.47 d at 0°C and 11.92 d at 2°C, respectively. Hence, 11 d (at 0°C) and 12 d (at 2°C) were chosen as the target time to conduct the confirmatory tests. No survivors were found among the estimated 50,385 and 57,366 treated eggs, which resulted in the efficacy of 99.9941 and 99.9948% mortality (95% CL) at 0 and 2°C, respectively. Our study suggests a technical basis for cold disinfestation on D. suzukii in cage-infested Chinese 'Red Globe' (Vitis vinifera L.) grape, which could provide flexible phytosanitary treatment for control of D. suzukii in the international trade of grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leaves of the medicinal plant Ampelopsis grossedentata, which is commonly known as vine tea, are used widely in the traditional Chinese beverage in southwest China. The leaves contain a large amount of dihydromyricetin, a compound with various biological activities. However, the transcript profiles involved in its biosynthetic pathway in this plant are unknown. Results: We conducted a transcriptome analysis of both young and old leaves of the vine tea plant using Illumina sequencing. Of the transcriptome datasets, a total of 52.47 million and 47.25 million clean reads were obtained from young and old leaves, respectively. Among 471,658 transcripts and 177,422 genes generated, 7768 differentially expressed genes were identified in leaves at these two stages of development. The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway of vine tea was investigated according to the transcriptome profiling analysis. Most of the genes encoding phenylpropanoid biosynthesis enzymes were identified and found to be differentially expressed in different tissues and leaf stages of vine tea and also greatly contributed to the biosynthesis of dihydromyricetin in vine tea. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first formal study to explore the transcriptome of A. grossedentata. The study provides an insight into the expression patterns and differential distribution of genes related to dihydromyricetin biosynthesis in vine tea. The information may pave the way to metabolically engineering plants with higher flavonoid content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Basal leaf removal is widely practiced to increase grape cluster sunlight exposure that controls berry rot and improves quality. Studies on its influence on volatile compounds in grape berries have been performed mostly in Mediterranean or marine climate regions. It is uncertain whether similar efficiency can be achieved when grape berries are grown under continental climate. This study aimed to dissect the variation in volatile compound production and transcriptome in sunlight-exposed grape berries in a dry-hot climate region and to propose the key genes related to the variation. Results: Four cluster sunlight exposure strategies, including basal leaf removal at pepper-corn size stage, leaf removal at véraison (LR-V), leaf moving at véraison (LM-V), and half-leaf removal at véraison, were implemented at the north foot of the Mt. Tianshan region of northwestern China. Various cluster exposure treatments resulted in a decline in the concentrations of norisoprenoids and monoterpenes in ripening grape berries. Both β-carotene and lutein, the substrates of norisoprenoid biosynthesis, were reduced by cluster sunlight exposure. K-means cluster analysis showed that some genes involved in biosynthesis such as VviTPS55, VviTPS60, VviTPS66, VviCCD4a and VviCCD4b exhibited lower expression levels in exposed berries at least at one of the tested stages. Two C6-derived esters with fruity attributes, ethyl hexanoate and hexyl acetate, were reduced markedly. In contrast, main C6 alcohol compound levels were elevated in the LR-V- and LM-V-treated grape berries, which corresponded to the up-regulated expression of VviLOXA, VviLOXO and VviADH1 in the oxylipin pathway. Most of the differentially expressed genes in the exposed and control berries were enriched to the "stress response" processes, and this transcriptome difference was accumulated as the berries matured. Besides, LR-V treatment stimulated a significant up-regulation in photosynthesis-related genes in the grape berries, which did not happen with LM-V treatment. Conclusions: Cluster sunlight exposure in dry-hot climate viticulture resulted in different volatile-targeted transcriptomic and metabolic responses from those obtained in the temperate Mediterranean or marine climate region. Therefore, a modified canopy management should be adopted to improve the aroma of grape berries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multiple nucleotide polymorphism (MNP) marker system for grapes is reported. • MNP universal markers (n = 582) are screened in 31 grape genome resequencing data. • MNP fingerprints of 60 representative grape varieties are constructed. • MNP distinguished the grape germplasms based on their ploidy levels and purposes. • MNP markers distinguished the grape germplasms with a >99 % discrimination rate. Grapes (Vitis L.) are one of the most important and popular fruits in China. However, efficient identification of grapes is important in the protection of domestic grapes and breeders' rights. Here, we developed a new method called multiple nucleotide polymorphisms (MNP), which combines the advantages of multiple PCR amplification and high-throughput sequencing to improve the efficiency of grape variety identification. We identified 582 universal MNP markers and screened them based on the whole genome sequencing data of 31 representative cultivars. Subsequently, MNP libraries of 60 common cultivars were constructed using multiple PCR amplification and sequencing. The pairing comparison of 60 grape materials revealed a high identification rate (>99 %) of MNP markers. Furthermore, MNP accurately distinguishes diploid and polyploid, which can assist in molecular identification of grapes. Overall, MNP molecular identification technology provides a new way for grape variety identification. Compared with SNP, MNP reduces the cost of identification because it does not need to make expensive gene chips. In addition, MNP can perform the amplification of thousands of primers in a single tube and uses sequencing instead of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which greatly saves experimental consumables and labor compared with SSR. Collectively, the developed technique has the advantages of low cost and high efficiency, which is more competitive than other identification methods at present. The developed technology can assist in resource research and promote plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine trunk diseases have become one of the main threats to grape production worldwide, with Diaporthe species as an emerging group of pathogens in China. At present, relatively little is known about the taxonomy and genetic diversity of Chinese Diaporthe populations, including their relationships to other populations worldwide. Here, we conducted an extensive field survey in six provinces in China to identify and characterize Diaporthe species in grape vineyards. Ninety-four isolates were identified and analyzed using multi-locus phylogeny. The isolates belonged to eight species, including three novel taxa, Diaporthe guangxiensis (D. guangxiensis), Diaporthe hubeiensis (D. hubeiensis), Diaporthe viniferae (D. viniferae) , and three new host records, Diaporthe gulyae (D. gulyae), Diaporthe pescicola (D. pescicola) , and Diaporthe unshiuensis (D. unshiuensis). The most commonly isolated species was Diaporthe eres (D. eres). In addition, high genetic diversity was observed for D. eres in Chinese vineyards. Haplotype network analysis of D. eres isolates from China and Europe showed a close relationship between samples from the two geographical locations and evidence for recombination. In comparative pathogenicity testing, D. gulyae was the most aggressive taxon, whereas D. hubeiensis was the least aggressive. This study provides new insights into the Diaporthe species associated with grapevines in China, and our results can be used to develop effective disease management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mixture of copper and chelated iron (Cu-Fe) adhered to grape leaves uniformly. • Grape yield and photosynthesis was improved by application of the mixture (Cu-Fe). • The mixture (Cu-Fe) decreased the Cu accumulate in plant and soil. In the present study, a two-year field experiment was conducted with the V. vinifera 'Kyoho' grape in the Yellow River Delta of China. It tested the effects of the mixture of copper and chelated iron (Cu-Fe), a novel product on the basis of copper-based foliar fertilizer (CFF), on grape microelement concentrations, leaf photosynthesis, quality, and yield of grape plant. Grape yield in 1.0 g L−1 Cu-Fe treatment exceeded the control, Bordeaux mixture, Kocide 2000, and 1.0 g L−1 CFF treatments by 10.1–10.2%, 7.5–9.7%, 4.1–4.3% and 2.6%–3.7%, respectively. Levels of soluble solids, soluble sugars, sugar: acid ratios, and vitamin C, were higher in 1.0 g L−1 Cu-Fe treatment than the control or Bordeaux mixture treatment. Indices of leaf photosynthesis also were increased by spraying 1.0 and 2.0 g L−1 Cu-Fe compared with Bordeaux mixture and control, because of its improved wettability and uniformity on grape leaves. Leaf Fe concentrations in the Cu-Fe treatments were increased by 20.1–48.6% compared with other treatments, and the Cu content of leaves sprayed with 1.0 g L−1 Cu-Fe was significantly decreased by 67.3% compared with the Bordeaux mixture. In 2015, levels of soil available Cu were significantly lower when the mixtures of copper and iron-chelate was applied instead of Bordeaux mixture, because of the lower contact angle on grape leaves. Hence, compared with Bordeaux mixture, application of 1.0 g L-1 Cu-Fe led to higher leaf Fe concentrations, yields, and fruit quality of grape plants, while lowering the levels of Cu within the plants and soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The two-harvest-per-year farming system allow table grape to be harvested a year both in summer and winter in southern China. Herein, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate the diversity of fungi on grape fruits surface during the ripening process in summer and winter at subtropical Nanning region, Guangxi, China. The results showed that 23 fungal species existed in all samples. Among them, the five most dominant species were Cladosporium ramotenellum , Pseudozyma aphidis , Gyrothrix spp., Gibberella intricans and Acremonium alternatum , with abundance from 61.62 % to 91.26 %. Analysis using the student's t-test for Shannon index indicated that components of fungal community varied significantly between the two ripening seasons. The dominant genera of core fungal community were Cladosporium , Gyrothrix , Paramycosphaerella , Acremonium , Penicillium and Tilletiopsis in the summer and Cladosporium , Pseudozyma , Gibberella , Colletotrichum , Sporobolomyces , Rhodosporidium , Alternaria and Aspergillus in the winter. Overall, fungi diversity on grape fruits surface at Nanning showed significantly differences between different ripening seasons. Our results ennrich the understanding of epiphytic communities of grape fruits in subtropics. Highlights • Epiphytic fungal diversity of grape berries from southwest China were firstly studied. • Difference of harvest time influence epiphytic fungal diversity of the same vineyard significantly. • Epiphytic fungal community of grape berries in southwest China varied notably from other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is important for grape growth and wine quality. Unreasonable N fertilizer application affects wine growth and has a negative impact on wine quality. Therefore, it is essential to address the mismatch between N application and wine composition. To regulate vine growth and improve grape and wine quality, Cabernet Gernischt (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines were subjected to lower levels of N, compared to normal N supply treatments, during the grape growing seasons of 2019 and 2020 in the wine region of Yantai, China. The effects of reduced N application from pre-boom to pre-veraison on vine growth, yield and composition of grapes, and dry red wine anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic compound content were studied. We found that reduced N application significantly decreased dormant shoot fresh mass and yield. However, the effect of N application on fruit ripening depended on the season. Nitrogen-reduction treatment significantly improved wine phenolic parameters, including total phenolics, tannins, and anthocyanins, and enhanced most of the individual anthocyanins and some non-anthocyanin phenolics, especially stilbenes, including piceatannol, trans-resveratrol, and polydatin, regardless of the season. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of reducing N application during the grape growing season in order to modify the wine phenolic profiles., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, causes damage to ungrafted European grapevines, Vitis vinifera L. Where distribution is limited such as in Australia and China, phylloxera is managed primarily through quarantine protocols. In Australia, there are 83 known phylloxera genetic strains, and studies have shown differences in susceptibility to some disinfestation treatments. First instar nymphs are the most dispersive stage and can be transferred from infested to healthy vineyards on footwear and hand held tools. The current disinfestation protocol recommends a footbath treatment for 30 s with 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) followed by a water rinse. Methods and Results Survival of six endemic phylloxera genetic strains, G1, G4, G7, G19, G20 and G30, was determined by immersing first instars in 0, 2, 3 and 4% NaOCl for 30, 40 and 60 s followed by a 30 s water rinse. Although phylloxera survival was significantly reduced by increasing NaOCl concentration and treatment duration, none of the treatment combinations were 100% effective. By excluding the post-treatment water rinse, 100% mortality was achieved across all the six genetic strains using a treatment of 2% NaOCl for 60 s. Conclusions Results from this study recommend a revised disinfestation treatment for footwear and hand held tools. Significance of the Study It is important to consider differences in susceptibility to disinfestation treatments by phylloxera genetic strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first comprehensive description of the microbiome associated with the Ecolly (Vitis vinifera L.) grape, the high quality resistant white grape variety selected and bred in China. • Microbial community continuum analyzed during the growing stage to spontaneous fermentation in two consecutive years. • Weather parameters differed between vintages in their impact on microbial communities in single vineyards and were able to shape specific microbiota assemblages, such as Dissoconium , Hanseniaspora and Gluconobacter , in positive correlation with precipitation and relative moisture. • The continuous transformation of natural microbes from the grape epidermis to spontaneous fermentation was influenced by the grape quality, with the indigenous Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus dominating the spontaneous fermentation process under normal condition. Under natural conditions, a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem exists on the grape epidermis, which plays an important role in safeguarding grape health and facilitating the conversion of grapes into wine. However, current viticulture and vinification are flooded with excessive chemical additives and commercial ferments, leading to a reduction in microbial diversity, affecting the ecological balance of the natural microbiota and masking the wine terroir. This experiment comprehensively explored the continuous changes in the natural microbiota from the Ecolly (Vitis vinifera L.) grape epidermis to spontaneous fermentation over two years. The results suggested that microbial community structure and composition were significantly influenced by vintage and growing stage, with fungal genera being more stable than bacterial genera during the growing season. The fungal genera Alternaria , Ascochyta , Gibberella and Dissoconium and the bacterial genera Pantoea , Sediminibacterium , Ralstonia and Sphingomonas were mainly present on the grape epidermis in both years. The natural microbial diversity decreased from grape growth to spontaneous fermentation, and the fermentation environment reshapes the community structure, composition and diversity of the wine microbial consortium. These findings provide insights to promote cultivation and fermentation management strategies, advocate natural terroir attributes for grapes and wines, and promote sustainable development of the wine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]