Understanding grape berry development and response to environmental factors through omics approaches

Abstract

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is an important fruit crop grown under diverse climatic conditions. During its life span, the grapevine experiences many challenging conditions, which are expected to become more prominent in the future due to climate change. These factors affect the grapevine phenology, physiology, and berry metabolism resulting in poor-quality berries. In grapes, the berry development process is complex and takes place in three distinct phases, each characterized by specific metabolic activities. In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on understanding the transcriptional and metabolic networks regulating grape berry development. Analysis of transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome of grape berries has provided much insight into the molecular aspects of grape berry development. Considering the widespread consequences of climate change, understanding the effects of external factors on grapevine development, ripening process, and fruit quality through different omics approaches has gained importance. Integration of these approaches is the key to unravel the underlying process of berry development and the influence of external factors. This chapter discusses the molecular mechanisms of grape berry development using omics approaches.