Effect of Methyl Jasmonate Doped Nanoparticles on Nitrogen Composition of Monastrell Grapes and Wines

Effects of foliar application of methyl jasmonate and/or urea, conventional or via nanoparticles, on grape volatile composition

BACKGROUND

Viticulture has adapted foliar applications of biostimulants as a tool to improve crop quality. Recently, nanotechnology has been incorporated as a strategy to reduce the loss of biostimulants and treat nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar applications of amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (ACP) doped with methyl jasmonate (ACP-MeJA) and urea (ACP-Ur), individually or together (ACP-MeJA+Ur), on the content of volatile compounds in 'Tempranillo' grapes, compared to the conventional application of MeJA and Ur, individually or in combination (MeJA+Ur).

RESULTS

The results showed that nanoparticle treatments reduced the total C6 compounds and some carbonyl compounds in the grape musts. This is of novel interest because their presence at high levels is undesirable to quality. In addition, some aroma-positive compounds such as nerol, neral, geranyl acetone, β-cyclocitral, β-ionone, 2-phenylethanal and 2-phenylethanol increased, despite applying MeJA and Ur at a lower dose.

CONCLUSION

Consequently, although few differences in grape volatile composition were detected, nanotechnology could be an option for improving the aromatic quality of grapes, at the same time as reducing the required doses of biostimulants and generating more sustainable agricultural practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Nanoparticles doped with methyl jasmonate: foliar application to Monastrell vines under two watering regimes. An alternative to improve grape volatile composition?

BACKGROUND

Elicitors induce defense mechanisms, triggering the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Irrigation has implications for a more sustainable viticulture and for grape composition. The aim was to investigate the influence on grape aroma composition during 2019 and 2020 of the foliar application of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) nanoparticles and ACP doped with methyl jasmonate (ACP-MeJ), as an elicitor, with rainfed or regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) grapevines.

RESULTS

In both growing seasons, nearly all terpenoids, C13 norisoprenoids, benzenoid compounds and alcohols increased with ACP-MeJ under the RDI regimen. In 2019, under the rainfed regime, ACP treatment increased limonene, p-cymene, α-terpineol, 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN), 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, and MeJ concentration in comparison with control grapes. In 2020, the rainfed regime treated with ACP-MeJ only increased the nonanoic acid content. Grape volatile compounds were most influenced by season and watering status whereas the foliar application mainly affected the terpenoids.

CONCLUSION

A RDI regime combined with the elicitor ACP-MeJ application could improve the synthesis of certain important volatile compounds, such as p-cymene, linalool, α-terpineol, geranyl acetone, β-ionone, 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol, and nonanoic acid in Monastrell grapes. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Vine Foliar Treatments at Veraison and Post-Veraison with Methyl Jasmonate Enhanced Aromatic, Phenolic and Nitrogen Composition of Tempranillo Blanco Grapes

Methyl jasmonate (MeJ) is an elicitor that, when applied in the vineyard, can improve grape quality. There are several studies about the MeJ influence on red grape varieties; however, to our knowledge, there is little information about white grape varieties, specifically Tempranillo Blanco. Therefore, the aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of MeJ foliar treatments, carried out at veraison and post-veraison, on the aromatic, phenolic and nitrogen composition of Tempranillo Blanco grapes. The results showed that grape volatile compounds content increased after MeJ application, especially terpenoids, C13 norisoprenoids, benzenoids and alcohols, and, in general, mainly at post-veraison. Regarding phenolic and nitrogen compounds, their concentrations were enhanced after MeJ treatments, regardless of application time. Consequently, MeJ treatment improved grape volatile, phenolic and nitrogen composition, particularly when this elicitor was applied post-veraison. Therefore, this is a good and easy tool to modulate white grape quality.

Influence of foliar treatments with methyl jasmonate and methyl jasmonate-doped nanoparticles on nitrogen composition of Tempranillo grapes during two vintages

Nanoparticles are emerging as a cutting-edge technology to improve crop agricultural input efficiency and reduce biotic and abiotic stresses. In viticulture, nanoparticles hold promise for the sustainable application of an elicitor (methyl jasmonate, MeJ), allowing a considerable dosage reduction. Herein, the influence of the foliar application of free MeJ (10 mM) and MeJ nanoformulation (ACP-MeJ, 1 mM MeJ) on Tempranillo grape amino acids content over two vintages (2019 and 2020) was evaluated. While both MeJ treatments provided a significant increase of the amino nitrogen and yeast assimilable nitrogen in the must in 2019, there were no significant differences on these parameters in 2020. In 2019, MeJ treatment enhanced the synthesis of most of the amino acids included in this study, while ACP-MeJ promoted the formation of six amino acids. Hence, the content of total amino acids, with and without proline, was higher after applying MeJ than in the control musts. However, these values were higher for control must than for MeJ samples in 2020. The multivariable analysis confirmed that the vintage factor had a more prominent effect on the overall parameters of the musts. This strong influence of the vintage could be related to the higher rainfall in 2020.

Methyl Jasmonate and Nanoparticles Doped with Methyl Jasmonate affect the Cell Wall Composition of Monastrell Grape Skins

The structural composition of the cell wall of grape skins is related to the cell wall integrity and subsequent extraction of the different compounds that are contained inside vacuoles and also the cell wall breakdown products. Different reports have established that methyl jasmonate (MeJ) produces changes in the composition of the grape skin cell wall. The use of elicitors to promote the production of secondary metabolites in grapes has been studied in several reports; however, its study linked to nanotechnology is less developed. These facts led us to study the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and nanoparticles doped with MeJ (nano-MeJ) on the cell walls of Monastrell grapes during three seasons. Both treatments tended to increase cell wall material (CWM) and caused changes in different components of the skin cell walls. In 2019 and 2021, proteins were enlarged in both MeJ and nano-MeJ-treated grapes. A general decrease in total phenolic compounds was detected with both treatments, in addition to an increment in uronic acids when the grapes were well ripened. MeJ and nano-MeJ produced a diminution in the amount of cellulose in contrast to an increase in hemicellulose. It should be noted that the effects with nano-MeJ treatment occurred at a dose 10 times lower than with MeJ treatment.

Different response of proanthocyanidins from Vitis vinifera cv. Monastrell depending on time of elicitor application

BACKGROUND

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are phenolic compounds present in skins and seeds of wine grapes and have great implications for plant physiology and wine quality. There are several strategies to increase PA concentration, such as application of elicitors methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and benzothiadiazole (BTH), compounds that can stimulate defence responses like phenolic compound biosynthesis in wine grapes, which have been applied mainly at veraison (beginning of ripening). We recently evaluated the application of MeJ and BTH on Vitis vinifera cv. Monastrell grapes during veraison and mid-ripening (3 weeks after veraison). Grapes treated at mid-ripening showed higher anthocyanin concentrations than those at veraison. In this trial, over two seasons, we evaluated whether time of application (veraison or mid-ripening) of MeJ and BTH on 'Monastrell' grapes is a determining factor in the biosynthesis and composition of PAs in grapes and their subsequent release into wines.

RESULTS

Application of elicitors at different ripening times produced significant differences in the PAs of 'Monastrell' grapes, since those treated at mid-ripening recorded a higher PAs concentration in skin and seeds, and then in the wines produced, compared to grapes treated at veraison.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that despite different environmental conditions endured in each of the two seasons evaluated, application of elicitors at mid-ripening of Monastrell grapes could be used to harvest grapes with higher PA concentration, increasing the functional value of the wines, without altering their organoleptic quality. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Application of Elicitors, as Conventional and Nano Forms, in Viticulture: Effects on Phenolic, Aromatic and Nitrogen Composition of Tempranillo Wines

The phenolic, aromatic and nitrogen composition of a wine determines its organoleptic profile and quality. Elicitors have been used as a tool to stimulate the plant’s defense systems, favoring the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In this pioneering study, the elicitor methyl jasmonate in conventional form (MeJ) and in nanoparticle form (ACP-MeJ), with a concentration ten times lower, was applied in a Tempranillo vineyard over two seasons. The phenolic, nitrogen and volatile composition and the sensory properties of the MeJ-based wines were determined. The results showed that the effects of foliar applications of MeJ modify the wine composition. Thus, although the total concentration of most of the groups of phenolic compounds was not altered, several compounds, such as petunidin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, epigallocatechin and most of the stilbenes, increased, in both years, in the treated wines. Amino acids were influenced differently in each of the years studied, and volatile compounds generally did not improve in the treated wines. However, the ACP-MeJ wines were the best rated by the tasters, highlighting their equilibrium on the taste and their genuineness and odor quality. Therefore, foliar applications of ACP-MeJ can be considered a useful tool to improve wine quality.

Effect of Methyl Jasmonate and Methyl Jasmonate Plus Urea Foliar Applications on Wine Phenolic, Aromatic and Nitrogen Composition

Foliar application has been studied to enhance grape composition and, therefore, wine quality. This work examined, for first time, the effects of foliar applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and methyl jasmonate plus urea (MeJ+Ur) to Tempranillo vineyard on wine phenolic, aromatic and nitrogen composition over two vintages (2019 and 2020). A reduction in alcoholic degree was observed in MeJ and MeJ+Ur wines. The effect of foliar treatments was season-dependent. MeJ and MeJ+Ur wines were characterized, in the first vintage, by a higher content of total acylated anthocyanins, but a low content of total esters, alcohols and acids when compared with control wines. MeJ+Ur wines presented a higher total amino acids content than control and MeJ wines. However, in the second vintage, MeJ and MeJ+Ur wines presented an increase in some non-acylated anthocyanins, but only MeJ+Ur treatment increased the total content of flavonols, flavanols, hydroxycinnamic acids, stilbenes and total amino acids when compared with control wines. MeJ wines presented a low content of esters and acids, whereas MeJ+Ur did not show differences with control wines. Overall, the effect of MeJ+Ur foliar treatment was greater than the effect of MeJ application in order to improve the wine chemical composition.

Chitosan nanoparticles and their combination with methyl jasmonate for the elicitation of phenolics and flavonoids in plant cell suspension cultures

Productivity enhancement approaches, such as elicitation can overcome the limitations of low metabolite(s) yield in in vitro plant cell culture platforms. Application of biotic/abiotic elicitors triggers molecular responses that lead to a concomitant enhancement in the production of metabolites. Nanoparticles have been tested as alternatives to commonly studied biotic/abiotic elicitors. However, most nanoparticles explored are of metallic origin, which raises concerns about their cytotoxicity, disposal post-elicitation, and may limit downstream applications of metabolites. Here, we report the synthesis and application of biopolymeric methyl jasmonate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MJ-CNPs) and empty CNPs (size <100 nm) as nano-elicitors, which were simple to synthesize, cost-effective and safe. Enzymatic and metabolic investigations revealed that MJ-CNPs and empty CNPs improve and prolong phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity and production of phenolics and flavonoids. The data provides the first evidence of MJ-CNPs and empty CNPs as nano-elicitors that prolong the production of metabolites in plant cell suspension cultures.

Effects of Methyl Jasmonate and Nano-Methyl Jasmonate Treatments on Monastrell Wine Volatile Composition

The application of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) as an elicitor to enhance secondary metabolites in grapes and wines has been studied, but there is little information about its use in conjunction with nanotechnology and no information about its effects on wine volatile compounds. This led us to study the impact of nanoparticles doped with MeJ (Nano-MeJ, 1mM MeJ) on the volatile composition of Monastrell wines over three seasons, compared with the application of MeJ in a conventional way (10 mM MeJ). The results showed how both treatments enhanced fruity esters in wines regardless of the vintage year, although the increase was more evident when grapes were less ripe. These treatments also achieved these results in 2019 in the cases of 1-propanol, ß-phenyl-ethanol, and methionol, in 2020 in the cases of hexanol and methionol, and in 2021, but only in the case of hexanol. On the other hand, MeJ treatment also increased the terpene fraction, whereas Nano-MeJ, at the applied concentration, did not increase it in any of the seasons. In summary, although not all families of volatile compounds were increased by Nano-MeJ, the Nano-MeJ treatment generally increased the volatile composition to an extent similar to that obtained with MeJ used in a conventional way, but at a 10 times lower dose. Therefore, the use of nanotechnology could be a good option for improving the quality of wines from an aromatic point of view, while reducing the necessary dosage of agrochemicals, in line with more sustainable agricultural practices.