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Genotype x Environment approaches provide insights into genotype-specific grapevine transcriptomic plasticity

ABSTRACT: A dissection of Genotype x Environment interactions in grapevine berry using a multi-layered -omics approach Grapevine, the most widely-cultivated perennial fruit crop, is also considered a very environmentally sensitive crop. It is characterized by remarkable phenotypic plasticity which in turn is believed to effectively buffer environmental extremes especially through transcriptomic and epigenomic reprogramming. Thus, the final phenotype (P) of a given vine is the result of the close interaction between its genetic composition (G) and the environment (E). Here we analyzed Genotype x Environment (GxE) interactions in two grapevine varieties by characterizing their transcriptome plasticity when cultivated in different environments. Specifically, two genotypes (Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon) were cultivated in three different locations in Italy (Bolgheri -littoral Tuscany-, Montalcino – Appennine Tuscany- and Romagna -foothill area-), trained in an almost identical manner, and sampled at four developmental stages over two grapevine growing seasons, 2011 and 2012, for a total of 144 samples that were analyzed by hybridization to a whole-genome microarray and by Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS-seq). In order to study the relationships among differential gene expression profiles and environmental cues, we have developed a new statistical data mining tool based on data reduction approaches which allowed a dissection of the transcriptomic data into stage-specific, cultivar-related and GxE important clusters of gene expression. This deep inspection of inner relationships between the different dataset variables allowed the identification of several candidate genes that could represent putative markers of berry quality traits in grapevine GxE interactions. Moreover, the methods used to establish our model provide a framework for the analysis of transcriptome plasticity in other crops as they respond to diverse environments.

ORGANISM(S): Vitis vinifera

PROVIDER: GSE98762 | GEO | 2018/04/09

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Phenotypic plasticity refers to the range of phenotypes a single genotype can express as a function of its environment. These phenotypic variations are attributable to the effect of the environment on the expression and function of genes influencing plastic traits. We investigated phenotypic plasticity in grapevine by comparing the berry transcriptome in a single clone of the vegetatively-propagated common grapevine species Vitis vinifera cultivar Corvina through three consecutive growth years cultivated in 11 different vineyards in the Verona area of Italy. Results: Most of the berry transcriptome clustered by year of growth rather than common environmental conditions or viticulture practices, and transcripts related to secondary metabolism showed high sensitivity towards different climates, as confirmed also by metabolomic data obtained from the same samples. When analyzed in 11 vineyards during one growth year, the environmentally-sensitive berry transcriptome comprised 5% of protein-coding genes and 18% of the transcripts modulated during berry development. Plastic genes were particularly enriched in ontology categories such as transcription factors, translation, transport and secondary metabolism. Specific plastic transcripts were associated with groups of vineyards sharing common viticulture practices or environmental conditions, and plastic transcriptome reprogramming was more intense in the year characterized by extreme weather conditions. We also identified a set of genes that lacked plasticity, showing either constitutive expression or similar modulation in all berries. Conclusions: Our data reveal candidate genes potentially responsible for the phenotypic plasticity of grapevine and provide the first step towards the characterization of grapevine transcriptome plasticity under different agricultural systems. Vitis vinifera cultivar Corvina clone 48 berries were harvested from different vineyards, each located in one of the three most important wine production macro-areas of the Verona region: Bardolino, Valpolicella and Soave, on the basis of the site geographical coordinates. For each of the selected vineyards, specific environmental conditions (altitude and type of soil) and farming and agricultural practices used (training system, rows facing direction, planting layout, vineyard age and rootstock type) were recorded. Vineyards were selected in order to maximize differences in locations and in microenvironmental and farming conditions. Berries were harvested at three different developmental stages: véraison, mid-ripening and harvest; each sample was collected in three biological replicates, to cover the whole vineyard variability. The same sampling procedure had been repeated over three consecutive vintages (2006, 2007 and 2008).

Project description:Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L) is considered one of the most environmentally sensitive crops and is characterized by broad phenotypic plasticity, offering important advantages such as the large range of different wines that can be produced from the same cultivar, and the adaptation of existing cultivars to diverse growing regions. The uniqueness of berry quality traits reflects complex interactions between the grapevine plant and the combination of natural factors and human cultural practices, defined as terroir, which leads to the expression of wine typicity. Despite the scientific and commercial importance of genotype interactions with growing conditions, few studies have characterized the genes and metabolites directly involved in this phenomenon. Here we used two large-scale analytical approaches to explore the metabolomic and transcriptomic basis of the broad phenotypic plasticity of Garganega, a white berry variety grown at four sites characterized by different pedoclimatic conditions (altitudes, soil texture and composition). These conditions determine berry ripening dynamics in terms of sugar accumulation and the abundance of phenolic compounds. Multivariate analysis unraveled a highly plastic metabolomic response to different environments, especially the accumulation of hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids and flavonols. Principal component analysis revealed that the four sites strongly affected the berry transcriptome allowing the identification of environmentally-modulated genes and the plasticity of commonly-modulated transcripts at different sites. Many genes that control transcription, translation, transport and carbohydrate metabolism showed different expression depending on the environmental conditions, indicating a key role in the observed transcriptomic plasticity of Garganega berries. Interestingly, genes representing the phenylpropanoid/flavonoid pathway showed plastic responses to the environment mirroring the accumulation of the corresponding metabolites. The comparison of Garganega and Corvina berries showed that the metabolism of phenolic compounds is more plastic in ripening Garganega berries under different pedoclimatic conditions.

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Genotype x Environment approaches provide insights into genotype-specific grapevine transcriptomic plasticity

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