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Copper‐based fungicide B ordeaux mixture regulates the expression of V itis vinifera copper transporters
Author(s) -
Martins V.,
Teixeira A.,
Bassil E.,
Hanana M.,
Blumwald E.,
Gerós H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
australian journal of grape and wine research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1755-0238
pISSN - 1322-7130
DOI - 10.1111/ajgw.12096
Subject(s) - bordeaux mixture , vineyard , copper , viticulture , berry , fungicide , vitis vinifera , horticulture , veraison , arabidopsis , botany , transporter , chemistry , biology , wine , biochemistry , gene , food science , organic chemistry , mutant
Background and Aims The B ordeaux mixture has been widely used in viticulture, but the response of grape cells ( V itis vinifera L .) to copper is still largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated if copper application in the vineyard could interfere with copper homeostasis through the regulation of the expression of copper transporters ( VvCTrs ). Methods and Results The VvCTrs characterised in silico are phylogenetically related to COPTs from A rabidopsis and rice. In a field trial, we studied the expression of each VvCTr in grape berries and leaves throughout the season by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Transcripts of VvCTr1 and VvCTr8 were the most abundant in leaves and berries, respectively, while VvCTrs 4 , 5 and 7 were the least expressed, but the application of copper resulted in a significant change in the transcript levels. In plants treated with B ordeaux mixture, the copper concentration increased twofold in the pulp and ninefold on the skin of surface‐washed mature berries. Conclusions The expression pattern of VvCTr1 ‐8 depends on the tissue and developmental stage. Four applications of copper following a methodology used in organic farming are sufficient to induce a significant increase in copper content in berry tissues which is either a cause or a consequence of the observed transcriptional reprogramming of the expression of the VvCTrs . Significance of the Study The application of B ordeaux mixture should have major consequences on grapevine copper homeostasis, regulating copper transport at the transcriptional level. A new research avenue emerged towards the characterisation of VvCTr ‐mediated transport at the molecular level in response to copper.