title: Molecular analysis of post-harvest withering in grape by AFLP transcriptional profiling.
abstract: Post-harvest withering of grape berries is used in the production of dessert and fortified wines to alter must quality characteristics and increase the concentration of simple sugars. The molecular processes that occur during withering are poorly understood, so a detailed transcriptomic analysis of post-harvest grape berries was carried out by AFLP-transcriptional profiling analysis. This will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of berry withering and will provide an opportunity to select markers that can be used to follow the drying process and evaluate different drying techniques. AFLP-TP identified 699 withering-specific genes, 167 and 86 of which were unique to off-plant and on-plant withering, respectively. Although similar molecular events were revealed in both withering processes, it was apparent that off-plant withering induced a stronger dehydration stress response resulting in the high level expression of genes involved in stress protection mechanisms, such as dehydrin and osmolite accumulation. Genes involved in hexose metabolism and transport, cell wall composition, and secondary metabolism (particularly the phenolic and terpene compound pathways) were similarly regulated in both processes. This work provides the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular events underpinning post-harvest withering and could help to define markers for different withering processes.
authors.affiliation: Department for Sciences, Technologies and Markets of Grapevine and Wine, Via della Pieve 70, I-37029 San Floriano di Valpolicella (VR), Italy.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minoia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrarini
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Tornielli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zago
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delledonne
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzotti
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D027843:Vitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins