Postharvest treatments with ethylene on Vitis vinifera (cv Sangiovese) grapes affect berry metabolism and wine composition.
Grapes (Vitis vinifera, cv Sangiovese), harvested at standard commercial maturity, were treated for 36 h with ethylene (ET, 1000 ppm) or air (control, CT) before vinification. The composition of the grapes, must and wine was different in the CT and ET samples. In the ET wine, higher concentrations of specific phenol compounds, belonging to the classes of flavonols, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, and stilbenes, were detected. ET induced a significant change in the wine aroma profile by increasing free volatile categories such as phenols and fatty acids, and reducing the content of carbonyl compounds and, in particular, of esters. Less pronounced differences between CT and ET wines were observed in terms of glycosidically-bound volatile compounds. The activity of pectin methyl esterase and β-glucosidase was enhanced in ET-treated berry skins, suggesting that cell wall properties and changes in the hydrolytic activity are effective in modulating the composition of CT and ET wines.
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Elisa
E
Becatti
Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33 56127 Pisa, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Genova
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Annamaria
A
Ranieri
Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33 56127 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: pietro.tonutti@sssup.it.
Pietro
P
Tonutti
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
D000872:Anthocyanins; D005030:Ethylenes; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D059808:Polyphenols; D013267:Stilbenes; C036216:ethylene
Aroma compounds; Berry skin; Must and wine composition; Polyphenols; Postharvest ethylene treatment