Influence of the ethylene on the grape berry development and related-gene expression

Abstract

The grape is a non-climacteric fruit which maturation apparently does not require ethylene. Here, it is confirmed that the accumulation of anthocyanins is linked to the accumulation of a glucoslyltransferase (UFGT), whose promoter was cloned. We found 7 cis-elements ethylene-dependent. This study showed the stimulation of ufgt expression by ethylene is not dependent to MybA, transcription regulators of the ufgt. Experiments were designed to investigate all genes affected by ethylene in early ripening grapes. Among them some are in relation to variations in berry diameter. These genes are involved in the movement of water : several aquaporins, and the structure of the cell wall : polygalactoronases, xyloglucan endotransglucosylases, méthylesterase pectin, cellulose synthase and expansines. Ethylene stimulates the accumulation of most of their transcripts between 1 hour and 24 hours of incubation.