RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Ecophysiological, Genetic, and Molecular Causes of Variation in Grape Berry Weight and Composition: A Review
JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
JO Am. J. Enol. Vitic.
FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture
SP 413
OP 425
DO 10.5344/ajev.2011.10116
VO 62
IS 4
A1 Zhan Wu Dai
A1 Nathalie Ollat
A1 Eric Gomès
A1 Stéphane Decroocq
A1 Jean-Pascal Tandonnet
A1 Louis Bordenave
A1 Philippe Pieri
A1 Ghislaine Hilbert
A1 Christian Kappel
A1 Cornelius van Leeuwen
A1 Philippe Vivin
A1 Serge Delrot
YR 2011
UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/62/4/413.abstract
AB Berry fresh weight and composition are under the control of complex interactions among genotype, environmental factors, and viticulture practice, which all affect not only the mean value but also the ranges of variation in berry traits. Both mean values and variation range in berry composition play a role in berry quality and, subsequently, wine typicity. This review examines recent ecophysiological, genetic, and molecular knowledge to provide better understanding of the mechanisms that influence variability in berry weight and composition. We specifically reviewed the variation range in berry weight and composition (including sugars, organic acids, and anthocyanins) among Vitis genotypes, the environmental and viticulture practices that cause variability for a given cultivar, the genetic clues underlying the genotypic variation, and the putative genes controlling berry weight and composition. Despite numerous studies comparing differences in the mean value of a berry trait among different environment conditions and viticulture practices, very few studies have explored the level of variation in response to those factors. Present genetic and molecular studies are mainly focused on identifying genes involved in the control of berry weight and composition, with few considerations of environmental factors that affect their expression. In the future, more effort should be directed toward integration of genetic and molecular work with ecophysiological approaches in an effort to gain novel insights into the cause of variability in grape fresh weight and composition.