title: Effect of floral cluster pruning on anthocyanin levels and anthocyanain-related gene expression in 'Houman' grape.
abstract: Lateral floral clusters were removed from the main axis of the floral clusters of 'Houman' grape plants, leaving only 3-5-cm-long region of flowers at the end of the central axis. The floral clusters were pruned at 7 days prior to flowering. The effect of the pruning on fruit quality was assessed by determining the composition and levels of anthocyanins in the fruit and anthocyanin-related gene expression. Results indicated that floral cluster pruning significantly improved the quality of the fruit by increasing berry size, fruit weight and the total content of soluble solids. Floral cluster pruning also decreased the level of titratable acidity. Sixteen different anthocyanins were detected in fruit of the pruned clusters, while only 15 were detected in fruit from unpruned clusters. The level of anthocyanins was also significantly higher in fruit of the pruned clusters than in the unpruned clusters. Anthocyanin-related gene expression was also significantly upregulated to a higher level in fruit from pruned floral clusters as compared with unpruned clusters. The upregulation was closely associated with increases in anthocyanin biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Shuai
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ji-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tao