Molecular Biology Biotechnology Of The Grapevine

Grapevine is one of the major cultivated plant crops. As with most woody plant species, molecular biology and biotechnology have progressed at a slow pace, due to several obstacles which have had to be overcome. However, substantial progress has now been made and useful information has been accumulated in the literature; numerous genes have been characterized from grapevine and significant progress has been made in the molecular and non-molecular biotechnological applications. In an effort to collect and present the state of the art on grapevine molecular biology and biotechnology, 41 scientists from 12 countries worked jointly on the preparation of this book. It is intended as a reference book for viticulturists, graduate and undergraduate students, biotechnological companies, and any scientist who is interested in molecular biology and biotechnology of plants with emphasis on grapevine.

Grapevine is one of the most widely cultivated plant species worldwide. With the publication of the grapevine genome sequence in 2007, a new horizon in grapevine research has unfolded. Thus, we felt that a new edition of ‘Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of the Grapevine’ could expand on all the latest scientific developments. In this edition and with the aid of 73 scientists from 15 countries, ten chapters describe new aspects of Grapevine Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology and eleven chapters have been revised and updated. This book is intended to be a reference book for researchers, scientists and biotechnological companies, who want to be updated in viticultural research, but also it can be used as a textbook for graduate and undergraduate students, who are interested in the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Plants with an emphasis on the Grapevine.

Information on the evolution, taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, physiology and genetics of grapevines has been scarce and thinly spread in the literature on horticulture and the plant sciences. This book aims to provide a concise but comprehensive overview of the biology and cultivation of the grapevine, accessible to all concerned with viticulture. After a description of the essential features of viticulture, including a concise history from antiquity to modern times, the taxonomy of the grapevine and the evolutionary processes which gave rise to the diversity within the Vitaceae is considered. Particular attention is paid to the genera Vitis and Muscadinia, which are considered a reserve of genetic variation for the improvement of grapevines. A description of the vegetative and reproductive anatomy of the grapevine precedes a full discussion of the developmental and environmental physiology of these fascinating and economically important plants. The concluding chapter considers the potential for genetic improvement of grapevines and includes coverage of the problems encountered, and the methods and strategies employed in breeding for scions and rootstocks.

Grapevine is a crop of major economical interest, and wine represents a multicultural heritage which has been growing since several milleniums. Yet, modern viticulture must face several challenges. Global climate has increased berry sugar content (and alcohol in the wine) whereas phenolic and aromatic ripeness are not always achieved. Water supply is becoming shorter. New varieties better adapted to new climatic conditions might have to be planted, which may affect wine typicity. Phytochemical treatments are more controlled, and the consumer pays increasing attention to environmentally safe practices. New methods reducing pesticide use, but maintaining yield and typicity, must be designed. The present book illustrates the recent progress made in ecophysiology, molecular and cell biology, and pathology of grapevine, as well as in precision viticulture and berry composition. Combination of these new tools with field observations will undoubtly make it easier to face the challenges described above. These multidisciplinary contributions will be of interest to anyone involved in grapevine and wine activities.

A study of recent developments in molecular biology and biotechnology, including enzyme technology, genetics and various applications, for example in fermentation technology, protein technology, genetic engineering and product recovery.

The domestication of grapes dates back five thousand years ago and has spread to nearly all continents. In recent years, grape acreage has increased dramatically in new regions, including the United States of America, Chile, Asia (China and India), and Turkey. A major limiting factor to the sustained production of premium grapes and wines is infections by viruses. The advent of powerful molecular and metagenomics technologies, such as molecular cloning and next generation sequencing, allowed the discovery of new viruses from grapes. To date, grapevine is susceptible to 64 viruses that belong to highly diverse taxonomic groups. The most damaging diseases include: (1) infectious degeneration; (2) leafroll disease complex; and (3) rugose wood complex. Recently, two new disease syndromes have been recognized: Syrah decline and red blotch. Losses due to fanleaf degeneration are estimated at $1 billion annually in France alone. Other diseases including leafroll, rugose wood, Syrah de cline and red blotch can result in total crop loss several years post-infection. This situation is further exacerbated by mixed infections with multiple viruses and other biotic as well as adverse abiotic environmental conditions, such as drought and winter damage, causing even greater destruction. The book builds upon the last handbook (written over twenty years ago) on the part of diagnostics and extensively expands its scope by inclusion of molecular biology aspects of select viruses that are widespread and economically most important. This includes most current information on the biology, transmission, genome replication, transcription, subcellular localization, as well as virus-host interactions. It also touches on several novel areas of scientific inquiry. It also contains suggested directions for future research in the field of grapevine virology.

Advances in Grape and Wine Biotechnology is a collection of fifteen chapters that addresses different issues related to the technological and biotechnological management of vineyards and winemaking. It focuses on recent advances in the field of viticulture with interesting topics such as the development of a microvine model for research purposes, the mechanisms of cultivar adaptation and evolution in a climate change scenario, and the consequences of vine water deficit on yield components. Other topics include the metabolic profiling of different Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeast species and their contribution in modulating the sensory quality of wines produced in warm regions, the use of new natural and sustainable fining agents, and available physical methods to reduce alcohol content. This volume will be of great interest to researchers and vine or wine professionals.