Transcriptomic Analysis of Root Restriction Effects on the Primary Metabolites during Grape Berry Development and Ripening

Abstract

Root restriction (RR) has been reported to enhance grape berry quality in diverse aspects of grape life. In this study, RR-induced increases in the main primary metabolites in the grape berry and the expression of their related genes were studied at different developmental stages. Mainly the transcriptomic and metabolomic level were analyzed using ‘Summer Black’ grape berry as a material. The main results were as follows: A total of 11 transcripts involved in the primary metabolic pathways were significantly changed by the RR treatment. Metabolites such as sugars, organic acids, amino acids, starch, pectin, and cellulose were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed along with their metabolic pathways. Sucrose synthase (VIT_07s0005g00750, VIT_11s0016g00470) and sucrose phosphate synthase (VIT_18s0089g00410) were inferred to play critical roles in the accumulation of starch, sucrose, glucose, and fructose, which was induced by the RR treatment. RR treatment also promoted the malic acid and tartaric acid accumulation in the young berry. In addition, the grape berries after the RR treatment tended to have lower pectin and cellulose content.