Evolution of volatile compounds composition during grape berry development at the germplasm level

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are typically important factors in fleshy fruit crop quality. However, qualitative, and quantitative changes of VOCs profiles during grape berry development between different germplasms are not well understood. We surveyed VOCs composition and concentration at three berry development stages (fruit-set, veraison and maturation) in sixty-two grape accessions, and analyzed the relationship between monoterpenes contents and TERPENE SYNTHASE (TPS) genes expression. We identified ninety-four VOCs and observed different patterns of VOCs production through development among the different accessions. Total VOCs levels and the abundance of aldehydes, the most abundant VOCs at all three developmental stages, increased during berry development. Monoterpenes, hydrocarbons, and ketones levels peaked at maturation stage, while alcohols, sesquiterpenes and C13-noisoprenes had the highest concentrations at fruit-set. Correlation analysis indicated that several genes annotated as TPS contribute to monoterpene biosynthesis. These results have promoted the study of VOCs production in grape.