Decoding heat-shock responses in Vitis vinifera L. by metabolic, VOC and physiological profiling: towards the identification of volatile and metabolic biomarkers

ABSTRACT:

Grapevine (Vitis spp.) is a crop of major economic importance in Europe. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events reduce yield and alter berry composition, affecting wine quality. Despite advances in vineyard management, mechanisms underlying grapevine thermotolerance remain poorly understood. To fill this gap, we combined physiological, volatile organic compound profiling and untargeted metabolomics. Selected genotypes from a ‘Rhine Riesling’ x ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ progeny were exposed to a 3 h heat shock at 40 and 43 °C under controlled conditions. At 43 °C genotypes were heat stressed, with significant chlorophyll fluorescence decrease and modulation of leaf transpiration and metabolism. VOC analysis highlighted 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one as a candidate heat stress marker, as well as benzenic compounds (i.e 2-phenyl-2-propanol). Untargeted metabolite profiling revealed several candidate heat-stress biomarkers; notably, the hypothesised 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (MEP-cPP) and guanosine accumulated preferentially in susceptible genotypes. Both markers were validated in the field, providing candidate molecular tools for breeding heat-tolerant grapevines.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS13195 | MetaboLights | 2026-06-26

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights