Project description:Grape berries undergo considerable physical and biochemical changes during the ripening process. Ripening is characterized by a number of changes, including the degradation of chlorophyll, an increase in berry deformability, a rapid increase in the level of hexoses in the berry vacuole, an increase in berry volume, the catabolism of organic acids, the development of skin colour, and the formation of compounds that influence flavour, aroma, and therefore, wine quality. The aim of this work is to identify differentially expressed genes during grape ripening by microarray and real-time PCR techniques. Using a custom array of new generation, we analysed the expression of 6000 grape genes from pre-veraison to full maturity, in Vitis vinifera cultivar Muscat of Hamburg, in two different years (2006 and 2007). Five time points per year and two biological replicates per stadium were considered. To reduced intra-plant and inter-plant biological variability, for each ripening stadium we collected around hundred berries from several bunch grapes of five plants of V. vinifera cv Muscat of Hamburg. We will use the real-time PCR technique to validate microarray data.Muscat of Hamburg. We will use the real-time PCR technique to validate microarray data.
Project description:Grape volatiles include a great number of compounds, among which monoterpenes, alcohols,esters and carbonyls were found.Grape may be divided into aromatic and non-aromatic varieties. ‘Shine Muscat’ belongs to the aromatic cultivar. The most abundant free compounds detected in Muscat grape were linalool, geraniol, citronellol, nerol. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is an economically important and widely cultivated fruit crop. Grape quality is important for its market value and is largely decided by its taste and aroma.Gas-chromatograph mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed to observe changes of the volatile compounds.