Integrating metabolomics and targeted gene expression to uncover potential biomarkers of fungal/oomycetes-associated disease susceptibility in grapevine.

Vitis vinifera, one of the most cultivated fruit crops, is susceptible to several diseases particularly caused by fungus and oomycete pathogens. In contrast, other Vitis species (American, Asian) display different degrees of tolerance/resistance to these pathogens, being widely used in breeding programs to introgress resistance traits in elite V. vinifera cultivars.

Genetic Relationships Among Portuguese Cultivated and Wild L. Germplasm.

The domesticated grapevine spread along the Mediterranean basin from the primary Near East domestication area, where the greatest genetic diversity is found in its ancestor, the wild vine populations. Portuguese wild populations are on the southwestern fringe of the distribution of the L. ssp in Europe.

Using Rapid Chlorophyll Fluorescence Transients to Classify Genotypes.

When a dark-adapted leaf is illuminated with saturating light, a fast polyphasic rise of fluorescence emission (Kautsky effect) is observed. The shape of the curve is dependent on the molecular organization of the photochemical apparatus, which in turn is a function of the interaction between genotype and environment. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of rapid fluorescence transients, aided by machine learning techniques, to classify plant genotypes.

Label free DNA-based optical biosensor as a potential system for wine authenticity.

The diversity found among the Vitis vinifera L. species allows the production of wines with very different characteristics. The development of platforms suitable for food composition analysis is currently an emerging area.

High Resolution Melting (HRM) applied to wine authenticity.

Wine authenticity methods are in increasing demand mainly in Denomination of Origin designations. The DNA-based methodologies are a reliable means of tracking food/wine varietal composition. The main aim of this work was the study of High Resolution Melting (HRM) application as a screening method for must and wine authenticity.

Phenolic compounds involved in grafting incompatibility of Vitis spp: development and validation of an analytical method for their quantification.

Introduction: Graft incompatibility of Vitis spp is an unresolved worldwide problem with important economic consequences. Grafting comprises a complex set of morphological and physiological alterations, in which the phenolic compounds seem to be strongly involved. Therefore, a detailed analysis and recognition of structural phenolic compounds diversity in the two partners of a Vitis graft is of great importance to evaluate their role as markers of graft establishment.

Molecular data mining to improve antibody-based detection of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1).

Testing for Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1) is mandatory in certification schemes of propagation material within the EU. Accurate and reliable diagnostic assays are necessary for implementation of this measure. During routine detection of GLRaV-1, using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and reverse transcription (RT) followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), evidence was obtained that positive samples could be overlooked by either or both detection methods.

Occurrence of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 5 in Portugal: genetic variability and population structure in field-grown grapevines.

A comparison of 15 field isolates of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 5 (GLRaV-5) was conducted, based on the analysis of nucleotide sequences of two viral ORFs: the coat protein (CP) and the heat shock protein 90 homolog (HSP90h). After amplification and cloning, the population of viral sequences was analyzed for each isolate, revealing the within-isolate presence of sequence variants for both genes, with one or more major CP variants. Phylogenetic analysis showed the gene sequence variants detected to be exclusive for each isolate.

Five phylogenetic groups identified in the coat protein gene of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 obtained from Portuguese grapevine varieties.

The genetic variability and population structure of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) variants were updated by examining the diversity within the viral coat protein (CP) gene among 174 isolates belonging to a collection of Vitis vinifera representing most of the Portuguese varieties. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of five well-defined clusters. Three of these correspond to previously defined groups, another corresponds to variants from Chile for which only one sequence has been previously identified, and an additional new group includes only Portuguese variants.