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Grape Berry Splitting Is Correlated with Cell Wall Pectin Content and Cutin Composition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Splitting of fleshy fruits causes substantial yield and economic losses in horticulture, yet the underlying physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the epidermal cell wall and cuticular traits in six grapevine cultivars ( Vitis vinifera L .) with a wide range of berry splitting susceptibility. Splitting was found to be unrelated to epidermal cell density and cuticle thickness. However, resistant cultivars exhibited higher cell wall pectin content at ripeness, suggesting its role in mitigating splitting. GC-MS profiling of grape berry cutin revealed a pronounced developmental shift in the aliphatic-to-phenolic monomers during ripening. Notably, resistant cultivars accumulated higher levels of phenolic monomers, including cinnamic acid-3,5-dimethoxy, methyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, and C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids, all of which were significantly associated with reduced splitting. Our findings highlight cell wall pectin content and cutin monomer composition as key determinants of grape berry splitting susceptibility and suggest molecular targets for reducing splitting in table grape cultivars.

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06037

Authors: Archana Prasad, Ekaterina Manasherova, Oded Degani, Hagai Cohen, Noam Reshef

Institution: Agricultural Research Organization

Language: English

Topic: Horticultural and Viticultural Research

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500