The Genomics of Grape Berry Ripening

Because of their economic and cultural importance, grapes are arguably the most studied fruit crop and are considered a model system for research on non-climacteric fruits. The sequencing of the grapevine genome has led to major discoveries that have increased our understanding of the molecular regulation of fruit ripening and berry metabolism, and how the environment and viticultural practices affect berry physiology. This chapter reviews the most recent studies on the molecular and metabolic pathways associated with grape berry ripening including the pathways involved in berry growth and softening, and sugar, organic acid, phenolic, and aroma accumulation. The role of hormones and hormone crosstalk, as well as a compendium of the most recent research on transcription factors (TFs) and non-coding RNAs are presented.