AREA II. Metabolic Engineering
Project 24:

Metabolic Engineering

Description:
This project is aimed at characterizing the genes and mechanisms involved in the metabolism of polyamines and the response to conditions of hydric and saline stress, to make it possible to control the grape development process and thus obtain fruit of greater quality and improve vine tolerance to environmental stress factors. Genomics methodologies will be used to identify the proposed objectives in this project. The Center of Biotechnology of UTFSM and researchers of the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Talca are working jointly on the project.

Outcomes:
Exclusive information on the biosynthetic pathway genes of polyamines in vines and their role in the millerandage of the carmenere vine fruit and the mechanisms of resistance to stress conditions (hydric and saline)

Researcher’s comment:
In vines, the availability of soluble sugars (particularly saccharose) seems to be influenced by the content of a specific polyamine. Grapevine stocks of high abscission such as Merlot show very low content of this compound compared to stocks of low abscission such as Pinot Noir. Since external manipulation of polyamine levels can induce abscission and parthenocarpia, these regulatory molecules seem to be involved in the origin of such phenomena.
Project results will help determine the genes and the different metabolic networks and their interaction with the multiple regulatory pathways operating during the formation and maturation of the fruit on the vine, as well as in the response to stress conditions. This information will make it possible to get to know the altered processes in this cultivar at the molecular level, leading to better knowledge of the grape cultivar, and helping design alternatives for its medium-term management.

Project Length: 5 years