The Molecular Regulation of Carbon Sink Strength in Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)
Citation
Li, Y.-M., Forney, C., Bondada, B., Leng, F., Xie, Z.-S. (2021). The Molecular Regulation of Carbon Sink Strength in Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), 11 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.606918
Plain language summary
Fruit such as grapes import sugars from the plant and provide food and energy for humans. The ability of the fruit to import sugars can determine fruit yield and quality and is affected by many factors, including sugars and hormones produced by the plant. With the growing global population, it is important to increase the allocation of sugars produced in the plant leaves to the fruit, which can increase crop yields. This paper reviews recent advances in our understanding of mechanisms controlling this process. Grapevines are an excellent model to study this process. Recent advances include sugar transportation and accumulation in the grape, identification of genes involved in sugar mobilization and the effects of plant hormones. A molecular based model of the regulation of sugar accumulation in the grape is proposed.
Abstract
© Copyright © 2021 Li, Forney, Bondada, Leng and Xie.Sink organs, the net receivers of resources from source tissues, provide food and energy for humans. Crops yield and quality are improved by increased sink strength and source activity, which are affected by many factors, including sugars and hormones. With the growing global population, it is necessary to increase photosynthesis into crop biomass and yield on a per plant basis by enhancing sink strength. Sugar translocation and accumulation are the major determinants of sink strength, so understanding molecular mechanisms and sugar allocation regulation are conducive to develop biotechnology to enhance sink strength. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is an excellent model to study the sink strength mechanism and regulation for perennial fruit crops, which export sucrose from leaves and accumulates high concentrations of hexoses in the vacuoles of fruit mesocarp cells. Here recent advances of this topic in grape are updated and discussed, including the molecular biology of sink strength, including sugar transportation and accumulation, the genes involved in sugar mobilization and their regulation of sugar and other regulators, and the effects of hormones on sink size and sink activity. Finally, a molecular basis model of the regulation of sugar accumulation in the grape is proposed.