The Effect of Water Deficit on Two Greek Vitis vinifera L. Cultivars: Physiology, Grape Composition and Gene Expression during Berry Development.

Anastasios Alatzas,Konstantina Leontaridou,Angelos K Kanellis,Yorgos Kotseridis,Serafeim Theocharis,Dimitrios-Evangelos Miliordos,Stefanos Koundouras,Polydefkis Hatzopoulos

doi:10.3390/plants10091947

Anastasios Alatzas, Konstantina Leontaridou + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091947

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Abstract

Plants are exposed to numerous abiotic stresses. Drought is probably the most important of them and determines crop distribution around the world. Grapevine is considered to be a drought-resilient species, traditionally covering semiarid areas. Moreover, in the case of grapevine, moderate water deficit is known to improve the quality traits of grape berries and subsequently wine composition. However, against the backdrop of climate change, vines are expected to experience sustained water deficits which could be detrimental to both grape quality and yield. The influence of water deficit on two Greek Vitis vinifera L. cultivars, ‘Agiorgitiko’ and ‘Assyrtiko’, was investigated during the 2019 and 2020 vintages. Vine physiology measurements in irrigated and non-irrigated plants were performed at three time-points throughout berry development (green berry, veraison and harvest). Berry growth and composition were examined during ripening. According to the results, water deficit resulted in reduced berry size and increased levels of soluble sugars, total phenols and anthocyanins. The expression profile of specific genes, known to control grape color, aroma and flavor was altered by water availability during maturation in a cultivar-specific manner. In agreement with the increased concentration of phenolic compounds due to water deficit, genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the red-skinned Agiorgitiko exhibited higher expression levels and earlier up-regulation than in the white Assyrtiko. The expression profile of the other genes during maturation or in response to water deficit was depended on the vintage.

Highlights

We initially investigated the expression profile of genes that encode enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway that leads to biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins
Total soluble solids levels were decreased at veraison stage of 2019 in both irrigated and non-irrigated plants of Assyrtiko indicating the negative effect of high temperatures on sugars accumulation, as has been already reported for other cultivars [43,44]
Total soluble solids and titratable acidity are important grape berry parameters, an appropriate sugar/acid maturity is insufficient to ensure the quality of grapes and the quality of the wine obtained

Summary

Introduction

Constant changes in climate patterns already threaten global food security with devastating effects in some basic food-producing areas [1]. Models predict that enhanced rainfall humidity followed by abrupt drought periods are among the most dynamic climate changes that jeopardize crop marketability and production [2]. Prolonged drought is decisive for plant growth and yield reduction, affecting crop plant distribution around the world. Grapevine is one of the well-adapted crops to the South European Mediterranean climate. Reduction in rainfall and increased evapotranspiration are predicted in the near future due to global warming [2]. The combined effect of drought and high air temperature during the summer regularly inhibits grapevine growth and reduces yield and quality of wine production [3]

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