Abstract
Climate change represents an undeniable threat to traditional viticulture in many areas of the world. Although an increase of average surface temperatures is expected in the future, late frost occurrences are predicted to be an actual challenge, being budburst the critical stage during which cold hardiness levels dramatically decrease and frost vulnerability is at its maximum. Genomic DNA methylation is known as an important mechanism for gene expression regulation. A sub-group of epigenetic regulators named DEMETER-like DNA demethylases (DMLs) has been shown to be involved in budbreak regulation inPopulus trichocarpa. In this study, buds of twoVitiscultivars, Fleurtai (Friulano × Kozma 20-3) and UD 31-103 (Merlot × Kozma 20-3), characterized by different levels of resistance to winter freezing temperatures, were sampled during the 2019/2020 winter season. Cold hardiness dynamics were monitored with differential thermal analysis (DTA) at regular intervals. Expression levels of two putative grapevine DEMETER homologs were investigated during natural dormancy conditions. Results show dissimilar deacclimation rates in the two varieties. As observed in other woody species, putative grapevine DEMETERs show downregulation and upregulation trends hinting at a potential involvement in grapevine dormancy release.
Highlights
Climate change represents a multifaceted phenomenon that threatens crop productivity all around the globe [1]
An increase of average surface temperatures is expected in the future, late frost occurrences are predicted to be an actual challenge, being budburst the critical stage during which cold hardiness levels dramatically decrease and frost vulnerability is at its maximum
As observed in other woody species, putative grapevine DEMETERs show downregulation and upregulation trends hinting at a potential involvement in grapevine dormancy release
Summary
Climate change represents a multifaceted phenomenon that threatens crop productivity all around the globe [1]. Grapevine phenology is greatly responsive to environmental conditions, with temperature being the most critical factor [2]. Higher temperatures produce an acceleration of grapevine development, with consequent earlier budbreak, flowering and harvest dates. Faster development rates impact ripening conditions, which greatly affect berry composition and wine quality, and compromise the survival of buds and shoots to potential late frosts [3,4,5]. Sudden occurrences of late freezing temperatures following a period of premature vegetative growth, known as spring frosts, can greatly damage bud tissues impairing fruit trees production and causing great economic losses [9,10]. Frost damages occurring at budbreak negatively affect grapevine photosynthetic and reproductive tissues alike with consequences that spread on multiple years of development [15]
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