Project Number
IWBT 2015-01
Project title
Interpreting the grapevine and environment interaction
Project leader
Vivier, M A
Institution
University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of AgriSciences. Institute for Wine Biotechnology
Team members
Vivier, M A
Young, P R
Pezzotti, M
Trygg, J
Hunter, J J
Jacobson, D
Eyeghe-Bickong, H
Belli-Kullan, J
Du Plessis, K
Joubert, C
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Objectives & Rationale
This study used state-of-the-art technologies to study and interpret the impacts of changing environmental factors on grapevine biology, organ development and berry quality in vineyards to ultimately understand how grapevine functions in interaction with its complex and changing environment. Established molecular, analytical and statistical techniques were applied to characterised vineyards in Elgin (cv Sauvignon Blanc) and Robertson (cv Shiraz) to link berry compositional changes and plant physiological responses to developmental and/or environmental cues.
Methods
Grape berries were sampled at three phenological stages that represent the green, véraison, and ripe stages of berry development. In the Elgin vineyard (Sauvignon Blanc), representative grape berries were sampled in the morning (09h00, AM) from UV-exposed and UV-shaded grapes in a high light and a low light bunch microclimate. In the Robertson vineyard (Shiraz) representative grape berries were sampled from the four row-orientations (N/S, NE/SW, E/W and NW/SE) from both sides of the canopy, separately, in the morning (09h00/AM) and the afternoon (16h00/PM). Berry samples were flashfrozen in the vineyard, homogenised and stored at -80ºC. Targeted chemical analysis, as well as cell wall analysis were performed to profile and quantify the levels of key quality-associated metabolites, including major sugars and organic acids, amino acids, phenolics, volatiles and carotenoids and chlorophylls. Climatic variables (including temperature, light, relative humidity) were measured to correlate metabolite changes to abiotic cues in the microclimate.
Results & Discussion
In the Elgin vineyard (Sauvignon Blanc), photosynthetically active berries in the early/green developmental stages, used oxygenated carotenoids (xanthophylls) to respond to light (including UVB) exposure. The response to UVB differed between the high- and low light microclimates. Ripe berries, however, responded to changes in light quality and quantity, by forming compounds that have direct antioxidant and/or “sun-screening” abilities (e.g. volatiles and polyphenols). Interestingly, the different microclimates did not change the cell wall composition of the ripe berries, indicating that the berries utilised metabolites (and not structural/morphological changes) to both sense and acclimate to their microclimates. Light quality (PAR and UVB) and quantity (high-light/low-light) differentially impacted individual metabolites that are linked to quality-imp act factors in the grapes and wines (notably carotenoids, phenolics, and monoterpenes). In the Robertson vineyard (Shiraz) developmental stage, row orientation, canopy facet (morning exposed versus afternoon-exposed) and time of day (AM versus PM) all impacted berry composition, but it was possible to identify metabolites that was regulated very similarly irrespective of their microclimates, whereas others, such as some secondary metabolites and amino acids were highly responsive to changes in the microclimates, not only over the season, but also during the day/night cycles.
Conclusions
Grapevine berries are remarkably responsive to their immediate environment and can react to adjust the berry composition to cope with the stresses perceived in the microclimate. These acclimation responses through metabolites can range from rapid (daily fluctuations of the carotenoids) versus long-term seasonal responses (amino acids and volatiles). The results also highlighted that both red (Shiraz) and white (Sauvignon Blanc) cultivars in a cool climate (Elgin) and warm climate (Robertson) were remarkably conserved in their responses to light and temperature and the data underlines the significant plasticity of grapevine and the potential to manipulate the berry composition by long term (row orientations) and seasonal (canopy manipulations) decisions. The approach and the results obtained provide insight into the plant mechanisms that allow a solid theoretical base to evaluate, plan and predict the outcomes of microclimatic impacts on berry metabolism.
Poster(s)
Joubert, C, Eyeghe-Bickong, H, Coetzee, Z A, Young, P R and Vivier, M A. Metabolic profiling of grape berries exposed or protected from UV light. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Musingarawbi, D, Eyeghe-Bickong, H, Young, P R, Nieuwoudt, H H and Vivier, M A. 2014. Rapid techniques for assessment of grapes and wines. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Du Plessis, K, Young, P R and Vivier, M A. 2014. A highly characterised model vineyard approach towards effective implementation of field-omics in grapevine studies. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Zietsman, A, Moore, J, Fangel, J, Willats, W and Vivier, M A. 2014. Evaluating the efficacy of maceration enzymes in deconstructing grape skins cv. Pinotage under winemaking conditions using cell wall profiling tools. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Young, P R. 2016. Metabolic plasticity and adaptation to (micro) climate change: Sauvignon Blanc modulates specific quality-associated berry metabolites in response to increased exposure. Poster presented at the 10th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology. 13th-18th June. Verona, Italy.
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Effect of commercial enzymes on berry cell wall deconstruction in the context of intra-vineyard ripeness variation under winemaking conditions. Poster presented at the 10th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology. 13th-18th June. Verona, Italy.
Zietsman, A Moore, J P, Fangel, J, Willats, W, Trygg, J, Vivier, M A. 2016. Grape berry skin cell walls unravelled in red wine fermentations and the role of maceration enzymes. Poster presented at the 14th International Cell Wall Meeting. 12th-17th June. Chania (Crete), Greece.
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Dissecting the polysaccharide-rich grape cell wall matrix for potential biomass utilisation. Poster presented at the Exploring Lignocellulose Biomass INRA Meeting. 23rd-24th June. Reims, France.
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Using combinations of recombinant pure pectinases to elucidate the deconstruction of the polysaccharide-rich grape cell wall during winemaking. Poster presented at Macrowine 2016: Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wine. 27-30 June 2016. Changins (Nyons), Geneva, Switzerland.
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Effect of commercial enzymes on berry cell wall deconstruction in the context of intravineyard ripeness variation under winemaking conditions. Poster presented at the Macrowine 2016: Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wine. 27-30 June 2016. Changins (Nyons), Geneva, Switzerland.
Presentation(s)
Bezuidenhout, I, Young, P R, Jacobson, D, Smit, S J, Potiran, A and Vivier, M A. 2014. Bridging the gap between the grapevine terpene synthase gene family and volatile terpenes found in the berry and wine. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Eyeghe-Bickong, H, Young, P R and Vivier, M A. 2014. A combination of chromatographic methods to accurately profile and quantify major metabolites in grapevines (Vitis vinifera cv) berries from characterised vineyards using small sample sizes. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Suklje, K, Coetzee, Z, Brand, J, Antalick, G, Buica, A and Vivier, M A. 2014. Yeast derivates in the vineyard: A potential to modify Sauvignon Blanc wine aroma. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Young, P R, Eyeghe-Bickong, H, Jacobson, D, Alexandersson, E, Coetzee, Z, Deloire, A and Vivier, M A. 2014. Grapevine plasticity in response to light: Sauvignon Blanc modulates in berry metabolome in response to an altered microclimate. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Smit, S J, Young, P R and Vivier, M A. 2014. Terpene synthases: Promiscuous enzymes synthesising a multitude of terpenic products with diverse functions in the grapevine. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Gao, Y, Moore, J P, Fangel, J, Willats, W, Vivier, M A. 2014. Deconstructing the wine grape cell wall cv. Cabernet Sauvignon during winemaking using profiling and fractionation methods. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Moore, J P, Fangel, J, Cornault, V, Willats, W, Knox, P and Vivier, M A. 2014. Cell wall profiling of ripening wine and table grapes reveal changes in neutral and acidic ß-(1,4)-galactan epitopes. Paper presented at 5th International Symposium on Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wines: MacroWine 2014. 7-10 September 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Vivier, M A. 2014. Systems biology of grapevines in field settings using model vineyards. Paper presented at the Plant Gene Discovery and Omics Technology Conference. 17-18 February, Vienna, Austria.
Vivier, M A, Young, P R, Du Plessis, K, Eyeghe-Bickong, H and Joubert, C. 2014. The molecular and metabolite profiling of grapevine berries in a model vineyard where the microclimate of the developing bunches has been altered. Paper presented at the 11th International Conference on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics. 28 July – 2 August, Beijing, China.
Vivier, M A. 2016. Field-grown Sauvignon blanc berries react to increased exposure by controlling antioxidant homeostasis and displaying UV acclimation responses that are influenced by the level of ambient light.Paper presented at Macrowine 2016: Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wine. 27-30 June 20, Changins (Nyons), Geneva, Switzerland. P. 2016. Dissecting the polysaccharide-rich grape cell wall matrix during ripening using high-throughput and fractionation methods. Paper presented at the 10th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology. 13-18 June. Verona, Italy.
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Dissecting the polysaccharide-rich grape cell wall matrix during ripening using high-throughput and fractionation methods. Paper presented at Macrowine 2016: Macromolecules and Secondary Metabolites of Grapevine and Wine. 27-30 June 20, Changins (Nyons), Geneva, Switzerland.
Joubert, C. 2016. How do field-grown grapevine berries acclimate to UV exposure in high and low light conditions? Paper presented at the 10th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology. 13-18 June, Verona, Italy.
Article
Eyéghè-Bickong, H A, Du Plessis, K, Alexandersson, E, Jacobson, D A. Grapevine plasticity in response to an altered microclimate: Sauvignon blanc modulates specific metabolites in response to increased berry exposure. Plant Physiology, Mnth March v. 170 (3) (p. 1235-1254)
http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/170/3/1235
Nguema-Ona, E, Moore, J P, Fagerstrom, A, Willats, W G T, Hugo, A, Vivier, M A. 2012. Profiling the main cell wall polysaccharides of tobacco leaves using high-throughput and fractionation techniques, Carbohydrate Polymers, Mnth Apr v. 88 (3) (p. 939-949)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.01.044
Alexandersson, E O, Jacobson, D, Vivier, M A, Weckwerth, W, Andreasson, E. 2014. Field-onomics – understanding large scale molecular data from field crops, Frontiers in Science, v. 5 (p. 286)
http://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00286
Moore, J P, Fangel, F U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A. 2014. Pectic-ß(1,4)-galactan, extensin and arabinogalactan–protein epitopes differentiate ripening stages in wine and table grape cell walls, Annals of Botany, Mnth May (p. 1-16)
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/05/07/aob.mcu053.full.pdf+html
Zietsman, A J J, Moore, J P, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Trygg, J, Vivier, M A. 2015. Following the compositional changes of fresh grape skin cell walls during the fermentation process in the presence and absence of maceration enzymes. [Online] Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, v. 63 (10) (p. 2798-2810)
Article.pdf
Zietsman, A J J, Moore, J P, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A. 2015. Profiling the hydrolysis of isolated grape berry skin cell walls by purified enzymes. [Online] Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, v. 63 (37) (p. 8267-8274)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02847
Gao, Y, Fangel , J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Dissecting the polysaccharide-rich grape cell wall matrix using recombinant pectinases during winemaking, Carbohydrate Polymers, Mnth November v. 152 (p. 510-519)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.05.115
Gao, Y, Fangel, J U, Willats, W G T, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Effect of commercial enzymes on berry cell wall deconstruction in the context of intra vineyard ripeness variation under winemaking conditions. [Online] Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Mnth April v. 64 (19) (p. 3862-3872)
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00917
Joubert, C,, Young, P R, Eyéghè-Bickong, H A, Vivier, M A. 2016. Field-grown grapevine berries use carotenoids and the associated xanthophyll cycles to acclimate to UV exposure differentially in high and low light (shade) conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science. v. 7 (p. 786)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00786
Musingarabwi, D M, Nieuwoudt, H H, Young, P R, Eyeghe-Bickong, H A, Vivier, M A. 2016. A rapid qualitative and quantitative evaluation of grape berries at various stages of development using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis, Food Chemistry, Mnth Jan v. 190 (1) (p. 253-262)
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.05.080
Zietsman, A J J, Vivier, M A, Moore, J P. 2016. Selwande van die wingerdplant, WineLand, Mnth March (p. 80-83)
Article.pdf
Du Plessis, K, Young, P R, Eyéghé-Bickong, H A, Vivier, M A. 2017. The transcriptional responses and metabolic consequences of acclimation to elevated light exposure in grapevine berries. [Online] Frontiers in Plant Science, Mnth July
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01261
Eyéghé-Bickong, H A, Young, P R, Vivier, M A. 2017. Analytical methods to measure grape metabolites – a review. [Online] Wineland, Mnth Jan
http://www.wineland.co.za/analytical-methods-measure-grape-metabolites-review/
Young, P R, Vivier, M A. 2017. Berry stress and wine quality, WineLand, Mnth March
http://www.wineland.co.za/berry-stress-wine-quality/