High Temperature Alters Anthocyanin Concentration and Composition in Grape Berries of Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir in a Cultivar-Dependent Manner.

Climate is determinant for grapevine geographical distribution, berry attributes, and wine quality. Due to climate change, a 2−4 °C increase in mean diurnal temperature is predicted by the end of the century for the most important Argentine viticulture region. We hypothesize that such temperature increase will affect color intensity and other quality attributes of red grapes and wines. The present study investigated the effect of high temperature (HT) on anthocyanin concentration and composition, pH, and resveratrol and solids content in berries of three major wine-producing varieties during fruit ripening in two seasons. To this end, a structure that increased mean diurnal temperature by 1.5−2.0 °C at berry sites, compared to Control (C) plants grown without such structure, was implemented in field grown vineyards of Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Results revealed a cultivar-dependent response to HT conditions, with Malbec and Pinot Noir berries exhibiting significant decreases in total anthocyanin concentration (TAC) at veraison and harvest, respectively, while Merlot maintained an unaffected pigment content under HT. The decrease in TAC was associated with reduced levels of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin glycosides, and increased ratios of acylated (AA)/non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA), suggesting pigment acylation as a possible stress-response mechanism for attenuating HT negative effects. Under HT, Pinot Noir, which does not produce AA, was the only cultivar with lower TAC at harvest (p < 0.05). pH, resveratrol, and solids content were not affected by HT. Our results predict high, medium, and low plasticity with regard to color quality attributes for Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, respectively, in the context of climate change.

Genetic diversity among varieties of the native forage grass Trichloris crinita based on AFLP markers, morphological characters, and quantitative agronomic traits.

We assessed the genetic diversity in Trichloris crinita (Poaceae) varieties from South America, using AFLPs, morphological characters, and quantitative agronomic traits. Owing to the importance of this species for range grazing, we first characterized the varieties based on forage productivity. Biomass production varied 9 fold among the materials evaluated. Analysis of AFLP fingerprints allowed the discrimination of all varieties with a few selected primer combinations. Pair-wise genetic similarities, using marker data, ranged from 0.31 to 0.92 (Jaccard coefficients). Marker-based unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) cluster analysis did not show geographical clustering, but rather grouped the varieties according to their biomass production. We identified 18 markers associated with biomass production, of which 8 showed complete correlation (r = 1.00) with this trait. These DNA markers can be used to assist selection for high forage productivity in T. crinita. Cluster analysis using morphological and quantitative characters revealed 4 distinct groups of varieties, clearly separated according to their biomass yield. The variables foliage height and basal diameter were strongly correlated with biomass production and these phenotypic markers can be used to select productive plants. The relations among the varieties based on AFLP data were significantly correlated with those based on agronomic and morphological characters, suggesting that the 2 systems give similar estimates of genetic relations among the varieties.

Argentinean cultivars of Vitis vinifera grow better than European ones when cultured in vitro under salinity.

Argentinean Vitis vinifera cultivars although originated from Europe, have clear ampelographic and genotypic differences as compared with the European cultivars currently used in wine making. In vitro evaluation of salt tolerance has been used in many species. Our hypothesis was that Argentinean cultivars are more tolerant to salinity than European ones. Three European cultivars, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and four Argentincan cultivars, Cereza, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimcnez and Torrontes Riojano were tested by in vitro culture. Treatments included: 1) Control, 2) 60 mEq/L of a mixture of three parts of NaCl and one part of CaCl2 and 3) 90 mEq/L of the salt mixture. Results from two experiments (I and II) are reported. No differences were found in plant survival, expressed as % of the respective control, among cultivars. Leaf area, leaf, stem and total dry matter (DM) in Experiment I and leaf area, leaf number and leaf, stem, root and total DM in Experiment II, were higher in Argentinean cultivars than in European ones. We conclude that Argentinean cultivars show better performance in growing under salinity, especially in the highest salt concentration. Differences among cultivars, inside each group, were found for most of the measured variables.

Argentinean cultivars of Vitis vinifera grow better than european ones when cultured in vitro under salinity

Argentinean Vitis vinifera cultivars although originated from Europe, have clear ampeIographic and genotypic differences as compared with the European cultivars currently used in wine making. In vitro evaluation of salt tolerance has been used in many species. Our hypothesis was that Argentinean cultivars are more tolerant to salinity than European ones. Three European cultivars, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and four Argentinean cultivars, Cereza, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimenez and Torrontes Riojano were tested by in vitro culture. Treatments included: 1) Control, 2) 60 mEq/L of a mixture of three parts of NaCl and one part of CaCl2 and 3) 90 mEq/L of the salt mixture. Results from two experiments (I and II) are reported. No differences were found in plant survival, expressed as % of the respective control, among cultivars. Leaf area, leaf, stem and total dry matter (DM) in Experiment I and leaf area, leaf number and leaf, stem, root and total DM in Experiment II, were higher in Argentinean cultivars than in European ones. We conclude that Argentinean cultivars show better performance in growing under salinity, especially in the highest salt concentration. Differences among cultivars, inside each group, were found for most of the measured variables.

Argentinean cultivars of Vitis vinifera grow better than european ones when cultured in vitro under salinity

Argentinean Vitis vinifera cultivars although originated from Europe, have clear ampeIographic and genotypic differences as compared with the European cultivars currently used in wine making. In vitro evaluation of salt tolerance has been used in many species. Our hypothesis was that Argentinean cultivars are more tolerant to salinity than European ones. Three European cultivars, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and four Argentinean cultivars, Cereza, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimenez and Torrontes Riojano were tested by in vitro culture. Treatments included: 1) Control, 2) 60 mEq/L of a mixture of three parts of NaCl and one part of CaCl2 and 3) 90 mEq/L of the salt mixture. Results from two experiments (I and II) are reported. No differences were found in plant survival, expressed as % of the respective control, among cultivars. Leaf area, leaf, stem and total dry matter (DM) in Experiment I and leaf area, leaf number and leaf, stem, root and total DM in Experiment II, were higher in Argentinean cultivars than in European ones. We conclude that Argentinean cultivars show better performance in growing under salinity, especially in the highest salt concentration. Differences among cultivars, inside each group, were found for most of the measured variables. (AU)

Argentinean cultivars of Vitis vinifera grow better than european ones when cultured in vitro under salinity

Argentinean Vitis vinifera cultivars although originated from Europe, have clear ampeIographic and genotypic differences as compared with the European cultivars currently used in wine making. In vitro evaluation of salt tolerance has been used in many species. Our hypothesis was that Argentinean cultivars are more tolerant to salinity than European ones. Three European cultivars, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and four Argentinean cultivars, Cereza, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimenez and Torrontes Riojano were tested by in vitro culture. Treatments included: 1) Control, 2) 60 mEq/L of a mixture of three parts of NaCl and one part of CaCl2 and 3) 90 mEq/L of the salt mixture. Results from two experiments (I and II) are reported. No differences were found in plant survival, expressed as % of the respective control, among cultivars. Leaf area, leaf, stem and total dry matter (DM) in Experiment I and leaf area, leaf number and leaf, stem, root and total DM in Experiment II, were higher in Argentinean cultivars than in European ones. We conclude that Argentinean cultivars show better performance in growing under salinity, especially in the highest salt concentration. Differences among cultivars, inside each group, were found for most of the measured variables. (AU)