IT’S NOT ALL BLACK OR WHITE. FOR GRAPES TOO

We use to think that grapes are only black or white. It’s a mistake. In nature, there are grapevine varieties with bunches of different shades, ranging from salmon to lilac, through gray, red and dark purple, up to almost black. Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for these nuances. Dysfunctions in the biosynthetic pathway of these compounds lead to determine the different colors. In this study, the genetic anomalies related to the chromatic variability of 15 pink berry grapevine varieties were identified, through an innovative targeted resequencing technique. The aim is to support the wine sector in the selection of pink berry table grapes, particularly appreciated by consumers.

In figure: bunch of two pink berry grapevine varieties.

REFERENCE

De Lorenzis Gabriella, Rustioni Laura, Pozzi Carlo, Failla Osvaldo. 2020. Disfunctions in the anthocyanin accumulation of Vitis vinifera L. varieties studied by a targeted resequencing approach. Journal of Berry Research, pp. 1-19 [ DOI: 10.3233/JBR-190478 ].

NOTES. The work was carried out in the framework of project titled “Caratterizzazione di uve rosate: completamento di uno studio genotipico e fenotipico pluriennale” funded by Piano di Sostegno alla Ricerca 2015-2017, Linea 2B.