Complex Interplay of Hormonal Signals during Grape Berry Ripening

Abstract

Grape and wine production and quality is extremely dependent on the fruit ripening process. Sensory and nutritional characteristics are important aspects for consumers and their development during fruit ripening involves complex hormonal control. In this review, we explored data already published on grape ripening and compared it with the hormonal regulation of ripening of other climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. The roles of abscisic acid, ethylene, and brassinosteroids as promoters of ripening are discussed, as well as the role of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, jasmonates, and polyamines as inhibitors of ripening. In particular, the recently described role of polyamine catabolism in grape ripening is discussed, together with its putative interaction with other hormones. Furthermore, other recent examples of cross-talk among the different hormones are presented, revealing a complex interplay of signals during grape development and ripening.

Keywords: grape ripening; hormonal regulation; metabolome; polyamines; transcriptome; viticulture.

Figure 1

Berries of Touriga Nacional cultivar at two stages of fruit ripening: véraison (EL35) and berry with intermediate Brix (EL36), according to the modified E–L system [3] that is considered as the reference in this review.

Figure 2

Overview of the main events involved in the hormonal control of grape development and ripening corresponding to stages EL32–EL38, according to the modified E–L system [3].