Unraveling the key molecular events of grape berry ripening

Despite the economic importance of grape berries and their processed products, the molecular complexity of berry development and ripening are poorly understood. In addition, the impact of yield on fruit quality has been studied extensively, but responsible mechanisms have not been characterized at the level of genetic regulation. To identify the key molecular events that control berry ripening, we created a highly detailed transcriptomic and metabolomic map of berry development from fruit-set to maturity using 'Pinot noir' and 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevines for three consecutive years. Coordinated waves of gene expression were observed at early development, veraison/mid-ripening and late-ripening stages and were consistent across vintages. Co-expression analysis identified a core network of transcripts; as well as variations representing varietal differences. This study allowed us to progress toward the construction of robust models describing the molecular network that characterizes berry development and ripening.