Exploration of the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin profile of Greek red grape skins belonging to Vradiano, Limnio, and Kotsifali cultivars, analyzed by a novel LC-QTOF-MS/MS method.

INTRODUCTION: Winegrape varieties Kotsifali, Limnio, and Vradiano OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a liquid chromatographic quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometric (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) method for the investigation of the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin content of Greek grape varieties employing target and suspect screening strategies. METHODOLOGY: A novel LC-QTOF-MS/MS method was developed and validated to assess the anthocyanin content of Kotsifali, Limnio, and Vradiano grape varieties. Sixteen grape samples were collected from the main growing areas of each variety in Greece. The influence of the grape variety on the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin composition of three Greek winegrapes was investigated using chemometrics. RESULTS: Excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99) was achieved for all the target analytes, and recoveries ranged between 90.1% and 119.1%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) and limits of detection (LODs) were calculated over the range of 0.020-0.40 mg/g and 0.010-0.13 mg/g, respectively. The RSD% was lower than 9.1% and 7.3% for intra-day and inter-day studies, respectively, indicating satisfactory trueness and precision. Target and suspect screening resulted in the identification of 5 and 26 anthocyanins, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Kotsifali variety exhibited a higher concentration of anthocyanins compared with Vradiano and Limnio. Higher levels of mean degree of polymerization (mDp) and different percentage levels of prodelphinidins (%P) were established among the varieties.

The effect of terroir on volatilome fingerprinting and qualitative attributes of non-irrigated grapes reveals differences on glycosylated aroma compounds.

BACKGROUND: 'Xynisteri' is considered as the reference white grape cultivar in Cyprus with remarkable adaptation to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions and appreciable oenological properties that renders it as an appropriate cultivar for studies within a global context due to climate change. To this aim, two distinct non-irrigated plots with different climatic conditions, soil properties and levels of rainfall were selected; Koilani [KO, altitude 800 m, 76% calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content, pH 7.97, average temperature: 16.5 °C, rainfall: 229 mm] and Kyperounda (KY, altitude 1200 m, CaCO3-free soil, pH 6.47, average temperature: 14.9 °C, rainfall: 658 mm). An array of physiological, biochemical and qualitative indices during successive developmental stages (BBCH 75-89) were determined. During the advanced on-vine developmental stages (BBCH 85-89), the aromatic profile of grapes was assessed with the employment of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Such analysis was complemented with non-destructive chemometric analyses. RESULTS: Berry ripening process substantially differed on the examined plots; BBCH 89 stage reached at 267 and 303 Julian days for KO and KY, respectively. Results indicated that berry weight, soluble solids content (SSC) and α-amino nitrogen were higher in KO than in KY, with exception made for ammonium nitrogen content. A total of 75 compounds, including aliphatic alcohols, benzenic compounds, phenols, vanillins, monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids were identified and quantified. The variations of mesoclimatic conditions affected the volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles at the fully-ripe stage, showing a considerable rise in glycosylated aroma compounds, especially monoterpenes and benzenic compounds. In particular, the higher amount of glycosylated aroma compounds were obtained in KY berries up to mid-ripe, whereas KO showed higher glycosylated aroma compounds at fully-ripe stage. Results reported herein indicate that aroma profile of 'Xynisteri' grapes varied substantially in the examined terroirs. Interestingly, the limited rainfall in KΟ non-irrigated vine did not compromise qualitative and aromatic properties of berries. CONCLUSIONS: The present study aimed at dissecting the impact of terroir on bush-trained, non-irrigated grapevines of a cultivar appropriate for extreme climate change scenarios. The volatilome fingerprint was highly variable among the examined plots; such results can be further exploited at vinification level towards production of single vineyard premium end products. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The beneficial effect of leaf removal during fruit set on physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices and volatile organic compound profile of the Cypriot reference cultivar 'Xynisteri'.

BACKGROUND: 'Xynisteri' is the reference Cypriot white cultivar that, despite its significant societal and economic impact, is poorly characterized regarding its qualitative properties, while scarce information exists regarding its aroma profile. In the current study, the effect of leaf removal during fruit set (BBCH 71) on 6-year cordon-trained, spur-pruned grapevines was assessed and an array of physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices were monitored during successive developmental stages (BBCH 75, BBCH 85, BBCH 87, and BBCH 89). Grapes were additionally monitored for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile during the advanced on-vine developmental stages (BBCH 85-BBCH 89) with the employment of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier-transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectra and electronic nose (E-nose) techniques. RESULTS: Grape berries from the vines subjected to leaf removal were characterized by higher solid soluble sugars (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), tartaric acid, and ammonium nitrogen contents, while this was not the case for assimilable amino nitrogen (primary amino nitrogen). A total of 75 compounds were identified and quantified, including aliphatic alcohols, benzenic compounds, phenols, vanillins, monoterpenes, and C13 -norisoprenoids. Leaf removal led to enhanced amounts of glycosylated aroma compounds, mainly monoterpenes, and C13 -norisoprenoids. Chemometric analysis, used through FT-NIR and E-nose, showed that the aromatic patterns detected were well associated to the grape ripening trend and differences between leaf removal-treated and control grapes were detectable during fully ripe stage. CONCLUSION: Leaf removal at fruit set resulted in an overall induction of secondary metabolism, with special reference to glycosylated aroma compounds, namely monoterpenes and C13 -norisoprenoids. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

An Optimized HPLC-DAD Methodology for the Determination of Anthocyanins in Grape Skins of Red Greek Winegrape Cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.).

A rapid and simple HPLC-DAD analytical method was developed and optimized for the determination of anthocynanins in three red Greek winegrape varieties (Kotsifali, Limnio, and Vradiano). The critical parameters, such as the acidifying solvent and the extraction temperature, which affect the extraction of anthocyanins from the grapes, were studied to find the optimum values. The developed methodology was validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, and precision and presented satisfactory results. The limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged between 0.20 mg/kg to 0.60 mg/kg, and the limits of detection (LODs) ranged between 0.06 mg/kg and 0.12 mg/kg. The RSD% of the within-day and between-day assays were lower than 6.2% and 8.5%, respectively, showing adequate precision. The accuracy ranged between 91.6 and 119% for within-day assay and between 89.9 and 123% for between-day assay. Sixteen samples from the main regions of each variety as well as from the official ampelographic collections of Greece were collected during the 2020 growing season and were further analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Notable differences in the anthocyanin content were detected among the cultivars using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA).

Leaf removal at veraison stage differentially affects qualitative attributes and bioactive composition of fresh and dehydrated grapes of two indigenous Cypriot cultivars.

BACKGROUND: The effect of leaf removal on postharvest performance of dehydrated grapes has been poorly analyzed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leaf removal at veraison stage on the metabolites of fresh and dehydrated grapes of two indigenous Cypriot cultivars ('Mavro' and 'Xynisteri'), which are destined for the production of 'Commandaria', a protected designation of origin (PDO) premium sweet wine. RESULTS: Leaf removal led to a reduction of soluble solids, titratable acidity, aroma potential and most of the phenolic groups in the musts of both cultivars. Dehydration led to a significant increase in all of these parameters in both cultivars, being more pronounced in cv. 'Mavro'. Interestingly, leaf removal indicated differential response in the dehydrated product of the cultivars examined; liquid chromatography (LC-DAD-qTOF-MS) data showed a significant decrease in phenolic compounds in 'Xynisteri' must (from 66.73 to 44.15 mg L-1 ), while 'Mavro' must registered similar values of phenolic compounds (from 94.78 to 96.72 mg L-1 ), but with a different distribution among phenolic groups. Intriguingly, flavonols and flavan-3-ols that present significant health-promoting properties showed higher concentrations in the must from dehydrated 'Mavro' grapes that were subjected to preharvest leaf removal. CONCLUSIONS: Leaf removal at veraison stage followed by sun drying differentially affected the chemical composition of the examined cultivars. This preharvest application followed by postharvest dehydration was beneficial for cv. 'Mavro', while this was not the case for cv. 'Xynisteri'. The effects of leaf removal in other developmental stages (i.e. pre/post bloom stage) need to be dissected with the ultimate goal of providing an end product with high bioactive content. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Changes in Tannin Composition of Syrah Grape Skins and Seeds during Fruit Ripening under Contrasting Water Conditions.

Tannin accumulation and composition were determined in skins and seeds isolated from Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah grapes submitted to contrasting water regimes under semiarid climatic conditions. Three irrigation treatments were conducted, starting at berry set through harvest of two growing seasons, 2011 and 2012: irrigation at 100% of crop evapotranspiration ETc (FI), irrigation at 50% of ETc (DI) and non-irrigated (NI). Seed total tannins did not vary with maturity but those of skins underwent a progressive decline (especially in 2011), expressed both on a fresh weight and on a per berry basis. Skin total tannin concentration and content per berry were increased under NI and DI conditions, mainly in 2012. In contrast, seed total tannins (in 2012) and flavan-3-ol monomers and tannin oligomers (both years) were higher in the fully irrigated vines (FI). Skin polymer size increased during ripening, NI and DI skins showing higher mean degree of polymerization (mDP) compared to FI at harvest. NI was also associated with a lower percentage of galloylation (%G) in skin oligomeric fraction (in 2012) and a lower percentage of prodelphinidins in the skin polymeric fraction (both years) at harvest. The mDP and %G of seed extracts did not vary during ripening and were higher in NI but only in 2012. According to the results, management of vine water status was shown to influence tannin amount and composition of Syrah grapes grown under semiarid conditions.

Effect of irrigation regime on anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah grapes under semiarid conditions.

BACKGROUND: Irrigation management is a powerful technique to control grape and wine colour. However, water deficit effects on anthocyanins are often contrasting, depending on the severity of water restriction. In addition, the effect of irrigation on the antiradical capacity of grapes has not been extensively studied. In this work the effect of water availability on anthocyanin profile and content as well as the antioxidant activity of Syrah grapes was investigated in an irrigation trial under semiarid climate conditions. RESULTS: Three irrigation treatments were applied in a 15-year-old Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah vineyard, starting at berry set through harvest of 2011 and 2012: full irrigation (FI) at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), deficit irrigation (DI) at 50% of ETc and non-irrigated (NI). NI grapes were characterized by increased individual anthocyanin content. However, differences among irrigation treatments were significant only around 18-24 days after veraison, when anthocyanin accumulation was maximum. The antioxidant activity of the skin extracts was not affected by irrigation. CONCLUSION: Irrigation proved to be an effective technique to control anthocyanin content in Syrah grapes under semiarid conditions. However, anthocyanin accumulation pattern should be considered by winemakers to appropriately select harvest time for improved wine colour.

A novel headspace solid-phase microextraction arrow method employing comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with chemometric tools for the investigation of wine aging.

BACKGROUND: Omics is used as an analytical tool to investigate wine authenticity issues. Aging authentication ensures that the wine has undergone the necessary maturation and developed its desired organoleptic characteristics. Considering that aged wines constitute valuable commodities, the development of advanced omics techniques that guarantee aging authenticity and prevent fraud is essential. RESULTS: Α solid phase microextraction Arrow method combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed to identify volatiles in red wines and investigate how aging affects their volatile fingerprint. The method was optimized by examining the critical parameters that affect the solid phase microextraction Arrow extraction (stirring rate, extraction time) process. Under optimized conditions, extraction took place within 45 min under stirring at 1000 rpm. In all, 24 monovarietal red wine samples belonging to the Xinomavro variety from Naoussa (Imathia regional unit of Macedonia, Greece) produced during four different vintage years (1998, 2005, 2008 and 2015) were analyzed. Overall, 237 volatile compounds were tentatively identified and were treated with chemometric tools. Four major groups, one for each vintage year were revealed using the Hierarchical Clustering Analysis. The first two Principal Components of Principal Component Analysis explained 86.1% of the total variance, showing appropriate grouping of the wine samples produced in the same crop year. A two-way orthogonal partial least square - discriminant analysis model was developed and successfully classified all the samples to the proper class according to the vintage age, establishing 17 volatile markers as the most important features responsible for the classification, with an explained total variance of 88.5%. The developed prediction model was validated and the analyzed samples were classified with 100% accuracy according to the vintage age, based on their volatile fingerprint. SIGNIFICANCE: The developed methodology in combination with chemometric techniques allows to trace back and confirm the vintage year, and is proposed as a novel authenticity tool which opens completely new and hitherto unexplored possibilities for wine authenticity testing and confirmation.

The Effect of Water Deficit on Two Greek Vitis vinifera L. Cultivars: Physiology, Grape Composition and Gene Expression during Berry Development.

Plants are exposed to numerous abiotic stresses. Drought is probably the most important of them and determines crop distribution around the world. Grapevine is considered to be a drought-resilient species, traditionally covering semiarid areas. Moreover, in the case of grapevine, moderate water deficit is known to improve the quality traits of grape berries and subsequently wine composition. However, against the backdrop of climate change, vines are expected to experience sustained water deficits which could be detrimental to both grape quality and yield. The influence of water deficit on two Greek Vitis vinifera L. cultivars, 'Agiorgitiko' and 'Assyrtiko', was investigated during the 2019 and 2020 vintages. Vine physiology measurements in irrigated and non-irrigated plants were performed at three time-points throughout berry development (green berry, veraison and harvest). Berry growth and composition were examined during ripening. According to the results, water deficit resulted in reduced berry size and increased levels of soluble sugars, total phenols and anthocyanins. The expression profile of specific genes, known to control grape color, aroma and flavor was altered by water availability during maturation in a cultivar-specific manner. In agreement with the increased concentration of phenolic compounds due to water deficit, genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the red-skinned Agiorgitiko exhibited higher expression levels and earlier up-regulation than in the white Assyrtiko. The expression profile of the other genes during maturation or in response to water deficit was depended on the vintage.

Influence of vineyard location and vine water status on fruit maturation of nonirrigated cv. Agiorgitiko (Vitis vinifera L.). Effects on wine phenolic and aroma components.

The influence of site on grape and wine composition was investigated for Vitis vinifera L. cv. Agiorgitiko in the Nemea appellation area in southern Greece. Three nonirrigated plots were studied during the 1997 and 1998 vintages, which were typically very hot and without summer rainfall. Vines were subjected to different water regimens as a result of the variation of soil water-holding capacity and evaporative demand. Vine water status was determined by means of predawn leaf water potential. Differences in vine water status between sites were highly correlated with the earliness of shoot growth cessation and veraison. Grape composition was monitored during fruit ripening. Water deficit accelerated sugar accumulation and malic acid breakdown in the juice. Early water deficit during the growth period was demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the concentration of anthocyanins and total phenolics in berry skins. A similar pattern was observed for the phenolic content of wines elaborated after vinification of grapes harvested on each plot, in both seasons. Limited water availability seemed to increase glycoconjugates of the main aromatic components of grapes as a quantitative increase in levels of bound volatile compounds of the experimental wines was observed under water deficit in both years. Wines produced from grapes of stressed vineyards were also preferred in tasting trials.

Effect of irrigation regime on perceived astringency and proanthocyanidin composition of skins and seeds of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah grapes under semiarid conditions.

In this work, the effect of water availability on astringency of seed and skin extracts of Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah berries under the typical semiarid conditions of Greece was investigated. Moreover, astringency was assessed in relation to proanthocyanidin composition. For this purpose, three irrigation treatments were applied starting at berry set through harvest of 2011 and 2012: full irrigation (FI) at 100% of crop evapotranspiration, deficit irrigation (DI) at 50% and non-irrigated (NI). FI skin and seed extracts were perceived significantly more astringent than NI. Total phenol, total tannin, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin C1 concentrations were positively correlated with astringency. Positive correlations were also obtained among astringency and average degree of polymerization and proportion of the extension units of shorter tannins while astringency of larger tannins was correlated with the proportion of terminal units. On the contrary, total anthocyanin and epigallocatechin contents were negatively correlated with astringency.

Effect of water deficit on leaf phenolic composition, gas exchange, oxidative damage and antioxidant activity of four Greek olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars.

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is often exposed to severe water stress during the summer season. In this study, we determined the changes in total phenol content, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol in the leaves of four olive cultivars ('Gaidourelia', 'Kalamon', 'Koroneiki' and 'Megaritiki') grown under water deficit conditions for two months. Furthermore, we investigated the photosynthetic performance in terms of gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence, as well as malondialdehyde content and antioxidant activity. One-year-old self-rooted plants were subjected to three irrigation treatments that received a water amount equivalent to 100% (Control, C), 66% (Field Capacity 66%, FC(66)) and 33% (Field Capacity 33%, FC(33)) of field capacity. Measurements were conducted 30 and 60 days after the initiation of the experiment. Net CO(2) assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and F(v)/F(m) ratio decreased only in FC(33) plants. Photosynthetic rate was reduced mainly due to stomatal closure, but damage to PSII also contributed to this decrease. Water stress induced the accumulation of phenolic compounds, especially oleuropein, suggesting their role as antioxidants. Total phenol content increased in FC(33) treatment and oleuropein presented a slight increase in FC(66) and a sharper one in FC(33) treatment. Hydroxytyrosol showed a gradual decrease as water stress progressed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased due to water stress, mostly after 60 days, while antioxidant activity increased for all cultivars in the FC(33) treatment. 'Gaidourelia' could be considered as the most tolerant among the tested cultivars, showing higher phenolic concentration and antioxidant activity and lower lipid peroxidation and photochemical damage after two months of water stress. The results indicated that water stress affected olive tree physiological and biochemical parameters and magnitude of this effect depended on genotype, the degree of water limitation and duration of treatment. However, the severity as well as the duration of water stress might exceed antioxidant capacity, since MDA levels and subsequent oxidative damage increased after two months of water deficit.

Effects of severity of post-flowering leaf removal on berry growth and composition of three red Vitis vinifera L. cultivars grown under semiarid conditions.

The effects of the severity of post-flowering leaf removal on the growth and phenolic composition of berry skin and seeds were studied in three Vitis vinifera L. genotypes over two consecutive seasons, 2007 and 2008. The study was conducted in a commercial vertical shoot positioned (VSP)-trained nonirrigated vineyard of northern Greece, planted with cultivars Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. Three different severities of leaf removal in the fruit zone were applied manually at berry set: nondefoliated (ND), removal of the lateral shoots of the first six basal nodes (LR), and full removal of the total leaf area (main leaves and lateral shoots) of the first six basal nodes (FR). Grape samples were obtained at commercial harvest. Leaf removal decreased yield per vine and cluster weight in Merlot and Sangiovese. Cluster compactness was reduced with the severity of defoliation only in Merlot, due to a decrease in berry number per cluster; berry fresh weight was unaffected in both cultivars. On the contrary, in Cabernet Sauvignon, yield was unaffected but berry size was restrained by leaf removal. Skin and seed mass followed variations in berry mass (except for seed mass in Sangiovese). Fruit zone leaf removal did not affect must soluble solids and increased titratable acidity only in Merlot. Defoliation increased skin anthocyanins in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the order FR > LR > ND but significantly reduced seed flavan-3-ols mainly as a result of the reduction in catechin and epicatechin amount. For these varieties, FR had lower seed flavan-3-ols than ND in both varieties, whereas LR had intermediate values. However, in Sangiovese, the highest seed phenolic content was recorded in LR. The results showed that post-flowering leaf removal improved the overall berry composition in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon but had limited effect in Sangiovese.

Irrigation and rootstock effects on the phenolic concentration and aroma potential of Vitis vinifera L. cv. cabernet sauvignon grapes.

Compositional changes of skin and seed phenolic compounds and berry glycosylated aroma precursors were measured in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon onto 1103P and SO4 rootstocks, in three irrigation regimes (FI, 100% of evapotranspiration; DI, 50% of evapotranspiration; and NI, non-irrigated). The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard of central Greece, in a factorial experiment during two growing seasons (2005-2006). Grape samples were obtained at commercial harvest. The deficit water supply decreased berry size but did not affect the skin/pulp weight ratio. Water limitation, especially pre-veraison, caused a substantial increase of skin anthocyanin concentration, and this effect was independent of water deficit-induced reductions in berry size and vine vigor. Among individual anthocyanins, malvidin-3-O-glucoside was mostly affected by water supply. The rootstock genotype did not affect berry growth parameters and skin polyphenol concentrations. The irrigation regime (mainly post-veraison) and rootstock genotype affected total flavan-3-ol monomers in seed tissue, mainly as a result of variations in the catechin amount. The lower seed phenolic concentration was found in non-irrigated and SO4-grafted vines, probably as a result of the restriction of scion vigor caused by these treatments, thereby altering cluster exposure. Skin and seed tannins were not affected by either rootstock or irrigation. The limited water supply was associated with increased aroma potential at harvest.