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DEVELOPMENT AND HORMONE ACTION

Auxin Synthesis-Encoding Transgene Enhances Grape Fecundity^1,[OA]

Dipartimento Scienze Ambientali e delle Produzioni Vegetali, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy (E.C., L.L., O.S., B.M.); and Dipartimento Scientifico Tecnologico Facoltà di Scienze, 37134 Verona, Italy (T.P., A.S.)

Grape (Vitis vinifera) yield is largely dependent on the fecundity of the cultivar. The average number of inflorescences per shoot (i.e. shoot fruitfulness) is a trait related to fecundity of each grapevine. Berry number and weight per bunch are other features affecting grape yield. An ovule-specific auxin-synthesizing (DefH9-iaaM) transgene that increases the indole-3-acetic acid content of grape transgenic berries was transformed into cultivars Silcora and Thompson Seedless, which differ in the average number of inflorescences per shoots. Thompson Seedless naturally has very low shoot fruitfulness, whereas Silcora has medium shoot fruitfulness. The average number of inflorescences per shoot in DefH9-iaaM Thompson Seedless was doubled compared to its wild-type control. Berry number per bunch was increased in both transgenic cultivars. The quality and nutritional value of transgenic berries were substantially equivalent to their control fruits. The data presented indicate that auxin enhances fecundity in grapes, thus enabling to increase yield with lower production costs.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Bruno Mezzetti (b.mezzetti{at}univpm.it).

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www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.106.095232

^* Corresponding author; e-mail b.mezzetti{at}univpm.it; fax 390712204856.

Received December 23, 2006; accepted February 16, 2007; published March 2, 2007.