A major QTL is associated with berry grape texture characteristics

Berry texture and berry skin mechanical properties are traits with high agronomic relevance because they are related to quality parameters and marketing requirements of wine, table, and raisin grapes. Searching for QTLs linked to berry texture, an F1 population of 152 individuals and their parents were used in this study. These F1 plants were obtained crossing Raboso Veronese, a seeded black wine grape cultivar, and Sultanina, a seedless white grape variety, especially used for raisins. Density flotation was applied for berry sorting improving the management of many and highly variable genotypes, irrespective of the quantification of specific molecule classes. Berries were evaluated for technological ripeness parameters and mechanical properties. Texture parameters were taken as raw data and as data normalised on berry dimensions, i.e., berry diameter or surface or volume. SSR molecular markers were used to produce a genetic map and a major QTL for berry texture was found on chromosome 18 with traits related to berry firmness showing a phenotypical explained variance higher than 60 %, and traits related to berry resilience, springiness and cohesiveness showing a variance higher than 50 %. Surprisingly, this QTL showed to be associated with SSR markers linked to VviAGL11, the main gene linked to seedlessness. VviAGL11 expression and co-expression profiling during grape ripening was evaluated using available information; this data suggested a role for this gene on the texture of a ripe berry

Evaluation of 15 Functional Candidate Genes for Association with Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion and/or Recurrent Otitis Media (COME/ROM)

DNA sequence variants in genes involved in the innate immune response and secondary response to infection may confer susceptibility to chronic otitis media with effusion and/or recurrent otitis media (COME/ROM). We evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 functional candidate genes. A total of 99 SNPs were successfully genotyped on the Sequenom platform in 142 families (618 subjects) from the Minnesota COME/ROM Family Study. Data were analyzed for association with COME/ROM using the Generalized Disequilibrium Test (GDT). Sex and age at exam were adjusted as covariates, relatedness was accounted for, and genotype differences from all phenotypically discordant relative pairs were utilized to measure the evidence of association between COME/ROM and each SNP. SNP rs2735733 in the region of the mucin 5, subtypes A/C gene (MUC5AC) exhibited nominal evidence for association with COME/ROM (P = 0.002). Two additional SNPs from this region had P values<0.05. Other variants exhibiting associations with COME/ROM at P<0.05 included the SCN1B SNP rs8100085 (P = 0.013), SFTPD SNP rs1051246 (P = 0.039) and TLR4 SNP rs2770146 (P = 0.038). However, none of these associations replicated in an independent sample of COME/ROM families. The candidate gene variants examined do not appear to make a major contribution to COME/ROM susceptibility, despite a priori evidence from functional or animal model studies for a role in COME/ROM pathology

A mutation in Nischarin causes otitis media via LIMK1 and NF-κB pathways

Otitis media (OM), inflammation of the middle ear (ME), is a common cause of conductive hearing impairment. Despite the importance of the disease, the aetiology of chronic and recurrent forms of middle ear inflammatory disease remains poorly understood. Studies of the human population suggest that there is a significant genetic component predisposing to the development of chronic OM, although the underlying genes are largely unknown. Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis we identified a recessive mouse mutant, edison, that spontaneously develops a conductive hearing loss due to chronic OM. The causal mutation was identified as a missense change, L972P, in the Nischarin (NISCH) gene. edison mice develop a serous or granulocytic effusion, increasingly macrophage and neutrophil rich with age, along with a thickened, inflamed mucoperiosteum. We also identified a second hypomorphic allele, V33A, with only modest increases in auditory thresholds and reduced incidence of OM. NISCH interacts with several proteins, including ITGA5 that is thought to have a role in modulating VEGF-induced angiogenesis and vascularization. We identified a significant genetic interaction between Nisch and Itga5; mice heterozygous for Itga5-null and homozygous for edison mutations display a significantly increased penetrance and severity of chronic OM. In order to understand the pathological mechanisms underlying the OM phenotype, we studied interacting partners to NISCH along with downstream signalling molecules in the middle ear epithelia of edison mouse. Our analysis implicates PAK1 and RAC1, and downstream signalling in LIMK1 and NF-κB pathways in the development of chronic OM

Use of density sorting for the selection of aromatic grape berries with different volatile profile

The aim of the study was to investigate the application of berry density sorting as a tool for the selection of grapes with different volatile and precursor profiles. The study was carried out on Moscato giallo, Malvasia di Schierano, Malvasia nera lunga, and Brachetto aromatic grape varieties. Free and glycosidically-bound terpene compounds including linalool, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, and terpineol, as well as lipoxygenases activity-derived compounds, were evaluated using head space-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) in density sorted berries (1075–1119 kg m−3). Total free terpenes changed with the berry density, while no significant changes were found in total glycosylated compounds, except for Malvasia nera lunga grapes where nerol, linalool, and geraniol contributed strongly to the increase of total contents with increasing berry density. Given that these variations were strongly variety-dependent, the possible use of density sorting equipment in winery for this aim may be less effective

Volatile Compound Release from Oak Chips in Model Wine Media: Combined Influence of Toasting Degree, Size, Time of Contact, and Ethanol Content

The effects of size, toasting degree, and time of contact on the release of volatile compounds from Quercus alba (L.) chips during a simulated fermentation and post-fermentative process were studied. The results obtained indicated that the large-size chips favored the release of furfural and furfuryl alcohol, while the small ones increased the concentration of cyclotene and maltol. The interaction between chip size and time of contact showed that the small-size chips are more sensitive to the increase of ethanol concentration for the extraction rate of some compounds (furfural, vanillin, maltol, cyclotene, whiskey lactones, and eugenol) compared to the large-size ones, increasing their concentrations at the end of maceration. The toasting degree of oak chips had a different influence on the volatile compounds studied. Cyclotene and guaiacol concentrations increased with the toasting intensity, whereas the extracted concentration of all compounds increased from light to medium-toasted chips, except for eugenol, and then decreased by further increasing the toasting level for 5-methylfurfural, whiskey lactones, eugenol, and only using high-level toasted chips for furfuryl alcohol, maltol, and vanillin. A possible protection effect of the chip size toward the possible degradation or volatilization losses of furfural for high toasting degrees was observed

Effect of flotation and vegetal fining agents on the aromatic characteristics of Malvasia del Lazio (Vitis vinifera L.) wine

BACKGROUND: Flotation is a process to reduce the must turbidity after grape pressing. The use of fining agents to reduce the polyphenol content is essential for white wine, but their impact on volatile compounds must be considered. Malvasia del Lazio juice (Vitis vinifera L.) was treated before flotation with animal gelatin (GEL), legume protein plus chitin (LEGCHIT), and legume protein plus yeast extract (LEGYEAST). The clarification efficiency, total polyphenols, and total proteins were determined in the grape must before and after flotation, as well as the volatile composition and sensory characteristics of the resulting wines. RESULTS: The LEGCHIT trial was the most efficient, it being the fastest and achieving the lowest turbidity values. The GEL trial was the slowest, showing grape must turbidity values similar to LEGYEAST but also the highest total protein content. The vegetal protein treatments caused a decrease in the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with respect to gelatin, which resulted in a reduction of aroma intensity, particularly for fruity and floral notes, but also for green notes. Furthermore, LEGCHIT wines were appreciated by panelists for their greater body and reduced astringency perception. CONCLUSION: The use of legume protein combined with chitin as a fining agent for flotation is advantageous in terms of clarification efficiency for grape must. Furthermore, the wines obtained showed high perceived global quality, even though a higher loss (38% and 27% respectively for LEGYEAST and LEGCHIT) of VOCs occurred when compared with gelatin. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Impact of specific inactive dry yeast application on grape skin mechanical properties, phenolic compounds extractability, and wine composition

Foliar treatments using two products based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae inactive dry yeast derivatives with specific formulations for white and red varieties were tested in two consecutive vintages on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay, Cortese, and Nebbiolo grown in Piedmont (north-west Italy). The possible elicitor effect of the foliar treatment was assessed at harvest on the chemical composition and mechanical properties of grape berries. The accumulation and extractability of phenolic compounds in Nebbiolo grape skins were also studied. Wines were produced and analysed in terms of technological parameters, color characteristics, free volatile composition, and phenolic compounds. The treatments induced an +16 μm average increase in berry skin thickness, which makes the grapes more resistant to physical damages and pathogenous attacks. In Nebbiolo, this treatment enhanced the accumulation of anthocyanins (+33 mg/kg on average). However, the obtained results pointed out a vintage effect. In 2015, few significant differences between wines made from control and treated grapes were found. Instead, in 2016, Nebbiolo treated wines had a slightly worse chromatic quality as a consequence of lower contents of phenolic compounds, but they were richer in relative amounts of malvidin-3-glucoside

Influence of different thermohygrometric conditions on changes in instrumental texture properties and phenolic composition during postharvest withering of Corvina winegrapes (Vitis vinifera L.).

'Corvina' winegrapes were postharvest withered under three controlled thermohygrometric conditions. Sampling was done on different days of withering and the mechanical properties, technological ripeness parameters, phenolic composition, and anthocyanin profile were determined. Depending on the condition, skin break force and pedicel detachment force significantly decreased during the dehydration process with a maximum variation of -0.258 and -1.306 N, respectively. Instead, total flavonoids of skin and seeds, and proanthocyanidins and low-weight flavanols of seeds increased, with a maximum variation of +1,483, +733, +1,022, and +469 mg/kg, respectively. The skin hardness was confirmed to be an important parameter for the dehydration kinetics

Monoterpenoids and norisoprenoids in Italian red wines

This work aimed to investigate the occurrence of different monoterpenoids and norisoprenoids in 10 monovarietal Italian red wines (Aglianico, Cannonau, Corvina, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Nerello, Primitivo, Raboso, Sangiovese and Teroldego) from 12 regions across Italy. The wines were produced in their terroirs following the oenological practices and legislation of the respective appellation. Data showed that different wine varietals were characterised by peculiar profiles of monoterpenoids and norisoprenoids. Montepulciano and Cannonau wines showed highest levels of nerol, terpinolene, α-terpineol, limonene and of the norisoprenoids β-damascenone, α-ionone, TPB, TDN and vitispirane. Aglianico, Corvina, Nebbiolo and Primitivo were characterised by relatively high levels of linear monoterpene alcohols such as linalool and geraniol. Sangiovese samples from Tuscany could be differentiated from those of Romagna, with the former characterised by a higher content of α-terpinene and the latter of γ-terpinene. The monoterpene 1,4-cineole was present in Montepulciano, Raboso and Sangiovese at potentially relevant olfactory levels, its occurrence associated with higher content of terpinen-1-ol acting as a potential precursor under wine acid conditions