title: Towards a scientific interpretation of the terroir concept: plasticity of the grape berry metabolome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The definition of the terroir concept is one of the most debated issues in oenology and viticulture. The dynamic interaction among diverse factors including the environment, the grapevine plant and the imposed viticultural techniques means that the wine produced in a given terroir is unique. However, there is an increasing interest to define and quantify the contribution of individual factors to a specific terroir objectively. Here, we characterized the metabolome and transcriptome of berries from a single clone of the Corvina variety cultivated in seven different vineyards, located in three macrozones, over a 3-year trial period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To overcome the anticipated strong vintage effect, we developed statistical tools that allowed us to identify distinct terroir signatures in the metabolic composition of berries from each macrozone, and from different vineyards within each macrozone. We also identified non-volatile and volatile components of the metabolome which are more plastic and therefore respond differently to terroir diversity. We observed some relationships between the plasticity of the metabolome and transcriptome, allowing a multifaceted scientific interpretation of the terroir concept.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experiments with a single Corvina clone in different vineyards have revealed the existence of a clear terroir-specific effect on the transcriptome and metabolome which persists over several vintages and allows each vineyard to be characterized by the unique profile of specific metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. andrea.anesi@unitn.it.|Present address: Physics Department, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123, Trento, Italy. andrea.anesi@unitn.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anesi
authors.affiliation: S-IN Soluzioni Informatiche, Via G. Ferrari 14, 36100, Vicenza, Italy. matteo.stocchero@s-in.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stocchero
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. silvia.dalsanto@univr.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dal Santo
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. mauro.commisso@univr.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Commisso
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. sara.zenoni@univr.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zenoni
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. stefania.ceoldo@univr.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceoldo
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. giovannibattista.tornielli@univr.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Tornielli
authors.affiliation: The Australian Wine Research Institute, P.O. Box 197, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Adelaide, Australia. tracey.siebert@awri.com.au.
authors.forename: Tracey E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.affiliation: The Australian Wine Research Institute, P.O. Box 197, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Adelaide, Australia. markus.herderich@awri.com.au.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herderich
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. mario.pezzotti@univr.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzotti
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Departement, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. flavia.guzzo@univr.it.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guzzo
mesh_terms: D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D055442:Metabolome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D027843:Vitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins