Phenology of flowering and starch accumulation in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cuttings and vines.
OBJECTIVE
A reliable protocol for flowering and fruiting in cuttings was developed with the aim of (a) studying inflorescence and flower development in grapevine cuttings and field plants, and (b) assisting haploid plant production.


METHODS
Inflorescence and flower development was studied in 'Gewurztraminer' (GW) and 'Pinot Noir' (PN) grape vines and cuttings grown in a glasshouse, along with variations in starch in the flowers. As there is a strong relationship between flower development and starch, the starch content of reproductive structures was estimated.


RESULTS
Inflorescence and flower development were similar in the vines and cuttings with consistent differences between the two cultivars. Indeed, the ontogenesis of male and female organs is not synchronous in GW and PN, with both female and male meiosis occurring earlier in PN than in GW. Moreover, changes of starch reserves were similar in the two plant types.


CONCLUSIONS
Cuttings have a similar reproductive physiology to vines, and can be used to study grape physiology and to develop haploid plants.
Lebon
G
G
Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, URVVC UPRES EA 2069, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, UFR Sciences, Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, F-51687 Reims Cedex 2, France.
Duchêne
E
E
Brun
O
O
Clément
C
C
D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods; D035264:Flowers / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*; D027843:Vitis / Q000254:growth & development*
D013213:Starch