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conference schedule and program with abstracts - Horticulture ...
conference schedule and program with abstracts - Horticulture ...
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O-52<br />
Functional characterization of terpene synthases of aromatic <strong>and</strong> non-aromatic grapevine<br />
varieties<br />
C. D’Onofrio* 1 , F. Matarese 1 , G. Scalabrelli 1 , P.K. Boss 2<br />
1 Department of Fruit Science <strong>and</strong> Plant Protection, Section of Fruit Science, University of Pisa,<br />
Pisa, Italy; 2 CSIRO Plant Industry, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia<br />
*Corresponding author: c.donofrio@agr.unipi.it<br />
Grape-derived flavour compounds <strong>and</strong> some flavour precursors modified during fermentation,<br />
wine evolution <strong>and</strong> ageing, are fundamental in determining the organolectic parameters used to<br />
define wine quality as aromatic quality, persistency <strong>and</strong> complexity are wine characteristics that<br />
may influence consumer choice. The knowledge of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites<br />
that contribute to grape <strong>and</strong> wine flavour is not well understood <strong>and</strong> only a few genes involved in<br />
berry flavour biosynthesis pathways have been discovered <strong>and</strong> characterised. The aim of this<br />
research is the functional characterization of c<strong>and</strong>idate genes thought to contribute to the volatile<br />
profiles of ‘aromatic’ (Aleatico, Moscato bianco) <strong>and</strong> ‘non-aromatic’ (Sangiovese) varieties.<br />
Samples of flowers <strong>and</strong> berries, covering developmental stages from fruit set to technological<br />
ripening, of ‘Aleatico’, ‘Moscato bianco’, <strong>and</strong> ‘Sangiovese’ have been analysed for their aroma<br />
content <strong>and</strong> the expression of genes that are predicted to be involved in grape sesquiterpene <strong>and</strong><br />
monoterpene biosynthesis. The aroma compounds have been extracted by SPE <strong>and</strong> SPME<br />
procedures <strong>and</strong> analysed by GS-MS, while the expression of characterised grape aroma genes<br />
<strong>and</strong> some c<strong>and</strong>idate genes have been analysed by real-time-PCR. Some of the genes studied<br />
show correlations between their expression patterns <strong>and</strong> the accumulation of certain aroma<br />
compounds during berry development. These genes have been the focus of functional<br />
characterization studies <strong>and</strong> include sesquiterpene synthases (which has expression patterns that<br />
correlate <strong>with</strong> the production of farnesene in flowers buds <strong>and</strong> open flowers) <strong>and</strong> a putative<br />
monoterpene synthase that is expressed when linalool accumulates during the ripening of all<br />
three grapevine varieties studied. These genes have been cloned in E. coli <strong>and</strong> the enzymatic<br />
activity of recombinant proteins is discussed. The discovery <strong>and</strong> characterization of genes that<br />
encode enzymes from grapevine flavour biosynthesis pathways <strong>and</strong> knowledge of factors that<br />
influence their expression <strong>and</strong> activity during berry development would support decisions on<br />
management of genotype, environment <strong>and</strong> viticultural practices for improving grape flavour <strong>and</strong><br />
aroma potential.<br />
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