Identification of key regulatory elements of fruit ripening in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

在加拿大，葡萄和葡萄酒行业在过去几十年里取得了显著的增长，获得了国内和国际的认可。葡萄的经济价值与水果质量密切相关，水果质量是由果实成熟过程中积累的大量化合物决定的。成熟是一系列过程的总和，包括分子、化学和物理变化。这些过程受到气候条件的精细调控。*我的研究计划的目标是确定触发和调节果实组织成熟的潜在生物学机制(关键基因和代谢物)，以及在植物内部传递环境信号并调节细胞代谢和水果质量的分子途径。*我和我的学生团队将评估田间和栽培处理，以了解哪些来自植物或在浆果本身合成的溶质(即糖、脱落酸)是诱导决定水果质量的主要成熟过程(果实软化、色素积累和挥发性有机化合物)所必需的。受这些处理影响的分子通路将被识别和分离，以确定信号通路中涉及的关键基因。通过田间试验和温室试验，研究温度和光照等环境因子对糖、脱落酸和关键信号基因水平的调控作用，并从基因表达和代谢产物水平评价果实的反应。*该计划将结合强大的田间和实验室实验与发育中水果的系统级表征，还将利用先进的转录组(RNA-seq)和代谢物(GC-MS、LC-MS、HPLC)分析平台。所产生的知识，与随后的应用试验相结合，将通过开发新的实践来改善葡萄园的果实成熟度和优化葡萄园的水果质量，从而使不列颠哥伦比亚省、安大略省和加拿大其他地区的葡萄种植者受益。*最后，该项目将为硕士、博士和本科生提供一个极好的葡萄栽培培训平台。这些HQP将学习和受益于该计划的多学科性质，该计划将提供培训机会，以发展植物生物学和基因组学的研究技能，同时还促进应用生理学领域的知识。**

In Canada, the grape and wine industry has grown significantly in the past few decades, gaining both domestic and international recognition. The economic value of grapes is strongly related to fruit quality, which is determined by a plethora of compounds that accumulate during fruit ripening. Ripening represents a summation of processes that include molecular, chemical and physical changes. These processes are finely regulated by climatic conditions.***The goal of my research program is to identify the underlying biological mechanisms (key genes and metabolites) that trigger and regulate ripening in the fruit tissues, as well as the molecular pathways that transduce environmental signals within the plant and modulate cell metabolism and fruit quality.***My team of students and I will evaluate field and culture treatments to understand which solutes (i.e. sugars, abscisic acid) originating from the plant or synthesized in the berry itself are necessary to induce the major ripening processes (fruit softening, accumulation of pigments and volatile organic compounds) that determine fruit quality. The molecular pathways affected by these treatments will be identified and isolated in order to identify key genes involved in the signaling pathway. The effect of environmental factors such as temperature and light in regulating the level of sugars, abscisic acid and the key signaling genes will be investigated through open field and greenhouse experiments where these factors will be manipulated, and the fruit response will be evaluated at the gene expression and metabolite level. ***This program will combine robust field and laboratory experiments with a systems-level characterization of developing fruit, also utilizing advanced platforms for transcriptome (RNA-seq) and metabolite (GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC) analyses. The knowledge generated, integrated with subsequent applied experiments, will benefit grape growers in BC, Ontario and other parts of Canada by developing new practices for improving fruit ripening and optimizing fruit quality in vineyards. ***Finally, the program will provide an excellent training platform in viticulture for MSc, PhD and undergraduate students. These HQP will learn and profit from the multidisciplinary nature of this program, which will provide training opportunities to develop research skills in plant biology and genomics, while also advancing knowledge in the field of applied physiology.**