title: Malbec grape (Vitis vinifera L.) responses to the environment: Berry phenolics as influenced by solar UV-B, water deficit and sprayed abscisic acid.
abstract: High-altitude vineyards receive elevated solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) levels so producing high quality berries for winemaking because of induction in the synthesis of phenolic compounds. Water deficit (D) after veraison, is a commonly used tool to regulate berry polyphenols concentration in red wine cultivars. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in the acclimation to environmental factors/signals (including UV-B and D). The aim of the present study was to evaluate independent and interactive effects of high-altitude solar UV-B, moderate water deficit and ABA applications on Vitis vinifera cv. Malbec berries. The experiment was conducted during two growing seasons with two treatments of UV-B (+UV-B and -UV-B), watering (+D and -D) and ABA (+ABA and -ABA), in a factorial design. Berry fresh weight, sugar content, fruit yield, phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant capacity (ORAC) were analyzed at harvest. Previous incidence of high UV-B prevented deleterious effects of water deficit, i.e. berry weight reduction and diminution of sugar accumulation. High UV-B increased total phenols (mainly astilbin, quercetin and kaempferol) and ORAC, irrespectively of the combination with other factors. Fruit yield was reduced by combining water deficit and high UV-B or water deficit and ABA. Two applications of ABA were enough to induced biochemical changes increasing total anthocyanins, especially those with higher antioxidant capacity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Almirante Brown 500, M5507 Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina; Catena Institute of Wine, Bodega Catena Zapata, Cobos s/n, M5509, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina. Electronic address: ralonso@fca.uncu.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Almirante Brown 500, M5507 Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
authors.forename: Federico J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Berli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Almirante Brown 500, M5507 Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Almirante Brown 500, M5507 Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Almirante Brown 500, M5507 Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottini
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D044948:Flavonols / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D027843:Vitis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D002241:Carbohydrates; D044948:Flavonols; D044949:Kaempferols; D010636:Phenols; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014867:Water; C099069:astilbin; D000040:Abscisic Acid; C006552:kaempferol; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: ABA; Anthocyanins; Drought; Environmental signals; Malbec; Vitis vinifera L