Gene Discovery Research in Grapevine and Applications to Viticulture

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Gene Discovery Research in Grapevine and
Applications to Viticulture
Steven T. Lund, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
wineresearchcentre AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH
COLUMBIA
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UBC Wine Research Centre Growing by Leaps and
Bounds

• Founded in 1999 by Dr. Hennie van Vuuren, WRC
  Director 7 members
• 2002 HJVV obtained Western Diversification
  funding to renovate five former Home Economics
  labs into three state-of-the-art molecular
  biology labs for faculty and two core facilities
• 2002 Wine Library opens, funded in part with
  donations from BC wineries
• 2002 Viticulture/Plant Genomics junior chair
  position filled by SL
• 2003 Yeast Genomics junior chair position filled
  by Dr. Vivien Measday
• Today, WRC consists of 3 faculty, 3 associate
  faculty, 17 staff and students target is 30-35
  total in Vancouver

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Potential for Future Expansion to UBC Okanagan

• Research at the WRC is focused on molecular
  biology and genomics of grapevine and wine yeasts
• Future expansion should include
• Grapevine physiologists and geneticists
• Enologists
• Highly trained extension specialists to support
  viticulturalists and wine makers throughout BC

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Viticulture Genomics Research Program at UBC
(Lund lab)

• Control of ripening initiation and metabolism in
  Cabernet Sauvignon berries (currently funded by
  Genome Canada)
• Mechanisms underlying freezing tolerance in
  deacclimating buds in Cabernet Sauvignon and
  Vitis riparia cv. Gloire (funding to be secured)

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GrapeGen A Genomic Approach to the
Identification of the Genetic and Environmental
Components Underlying Berry Quality in Grapevine
(6.2 million Cdn, 3 yr.)
Genoma España
Genome Canada
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Spain Matching Funds
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Provincial government Table grape industry
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GrapeGen Goals

• Determine the molecular basis for ripening
  initiation and the metabolism of compounds
  important for grape must and wine quality
• Determine how gene expression and metabolite
  profiles are affected by different environmental
  conditions (diffuse sunlight versus heavy canopy
  shading)
• Use sequence and expression profiling data to
  identify key DNA markers for 1) diagnostic tool
  development and 2) molecular breeding and clonal
  selection efforts

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Vineyard Sampling Osoyoos, BC
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Berry Growth and Development
VERAISON
Glucose, Fructose
June 15
July 15
August 15
September 15
October 15
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30,000 Genes in Grapevine
Berry ESTs
Transcript profiling Protein profiling Metabolite
profiling
BIOINFORMATICS
Sun vs. shade
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Climacteric Fruit Ripening
Non-climacteric Fruit Ripening
Abscisic acid (ABA)?
Other signals with synergistic effects on
ripening initiation?
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Cellular Signaling for Ripening Initiation
Protein -signaling -transporters -enzymes
RNA
DNA
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Does a Vacuole Transporter Control Acidity in
Grape Cells?
Veraison and Red Stages
Green Stages
malate
malate
malate
malate
malate
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Enzymes Control the Nuances of Flavour and Aroma
Through the Production of Metabolites
(collaboration with Dr. Joerg Bohlmann, UBC)
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Non-GMO Applications of Grape Genomics Research
Data

• Genomics GMOs
• DNA sequences can be printed onto chips (called
  microarrays). These could be used to monitor
  berry development and vine health throughout the
  growing season
• Predict timing of veraison with accuracy each
  season
• Assess drought, cold, pathogen stresses
• Monitor and forecast metabolite profiles
• Monitor response in berries to CN
• ESTs can be mapped to genetic loci important for
  berry quality. This information can be used in
  breeding programs to exploit natural genetic
  variation in Vitis relatives.

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GM Grapevines?What the Future Could Bring

• GM involves the introduction of up to 5 thousand
  DNA base pairs into the grapevine diploid genome
  of 950 million base pairs (thats a 0.0005
  change!)
• Potential applications of GM to berry production
• Accelerate ripening initiation and shorten the
  season
• Control acid content/pH
• Tailor metabolite profiles and improve balance at
  harvest
• Generate smaller, darker berries

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GrapeGen Project Team - Canada