A new and devastating physiological disorder of Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot was recently reported, known as premature berry dehydration (PBD), which is characterized by plant growth reduction, induction of general senescence and pedicel necrosis in the fruit, causing significant reductions in vineyard production. The causes of this disease remain unclear and previous reports suggest that it may be associated with phloem disruption and water provision. For this reason, any factor causing phloem disturbances could cause an important change in the berry water status. As some micro-organisms have been reported to disrupt phloem flow, we analyzed the occurrence of phytoplasma and viruses in commercial vineyards presenting PBD. In this study, a phytoplasma was detected by electron microscopy and nested PCR while virus infections were diagnosed by RT-PCR in samples collected during two growing seasons. The presence of phytoplasma only in samples from grape plants with PBD suggests that this pathogen may be one of the causal agents of this disorder. We suggest that the influence of other factors, such as virus infections, agronomic handling and environmental conditions also modulate berry dehydration. This is the first study at the microscopic and molecular levels that correlates phytoplasma presence with PBD.

In Chile, a new physiological disorder has recently been observed in cv. Merlot vineyards, causing as much as 20 to 80% reductions in yield (Moreno et al. 2004). This phenomenon, known as premature berry dehydration (PBD), can be observed throughout berry ripening, and is characterized by berries with high acidity and sugar concentrations and low colour at the usual harvest period. Berries may shrink up to the point of being useless for vinification. Although berries aren’t able to import sufficient sugars from the plant, they experience an increase in soluble solids concentration as a result of the rapid loss of water. Possible causes for cv. Merlot PBD are diverse. Most studies have been directed at the irrigation and water management of soils, although a combination of factors may be responsible. The effect of water deficit does not explain PBD on its own but can accelerate the problem (Moreno et al. 2004).

Chilean summer temperatures and the common practice of reduced irrigation usually increases dehydration episodes and wines obtained from surviving plants present an unbalanced sweet/acid ratio and poor organoleptic complexity.

This disorder has also been observed in other cultivars of V. vinifera. In the Syrah cultivar, the principle cause appears to be cuticle disruption leading to high transpiration rates (Rogiers et al. 2004) and xylem back flow (Tyerman et al. 2004). In these cases, weight loss was unrelated to the irrigation regime, seasonal differences and root stocks. However, this behaviour may be cultivar dependent, as post veraison cv. Shiraz showed reduced hydraulic resistivity at the proximal end of the pedicel, whereas  post veraison cv. Chardonnay, which does not present berry shrinkage, did not.

It has been suggested that water and solute supply into grape berries becomes phloem-dominant after veraison (Greenspan et al. 1994). Nevertheless, recent studies demonstrate that the xylem is still functional after this period (Chatelet et al. 2008). Any factor causing phloem interruption after veraison could cause a significant change in berry water provision, with consequences for fruit growth and ripening. Among these factors, some micro-organisms have being reported to disrupt phloem flow.

The incidence of pathogens in commercial cv. Merlot grapevines displaying PBD disorder has not been previously reported. Virus infections in grapevines might result in effects such as diminished fruit yields and reduced quality of the wine produced. Different virus-infected cultivars experience reductions in chemical parameters such as juice soluble solid content, berry skin anthocyanin concentrations and wine sensory evaluation parameters (Mannini et al. 1998; Cabaleiro et al. 1999). As an example, Grapevine Leaf Roll associated Viruses (GLRaV) may induce symptoms including downward rolling of leaves and increased or decreased anthocyanin accumulation in leaves or berries, respectively. In grapevine, diseases caused by phytoplasmas (some of which are known as grapevine yellows) may generate similar symptoms as viruses (Martini et al. 1999; Angelini et al. 2001; Boudon-Padieu, 2003; Lee et al. 2004). These prokaryotes from the Mollicute Classdiverged from Gram-positive bacteria and suffered cell wall loss and genome reduction (Lee et al. 2000). Phytoplasmas have been detected in Chilean vineyards (Herrera and Madariaga, 2003) and in other regions of the world, producing downward rolling of leaves, reduced yield, high acid and low sugar contents of infected clusters (Boudon-Padieu, 1999).

Both phytoplasma and viruses are able to affect fruit development and ripening, possibly as a result of phloem disruption. This blockage could hinder berry sugar accumulation and delay ripening. Since cv. Merlot plants with PBD present some of these symptoms, we determined in this study whether viruses and phytoplasma were present and associated with PBD in grapevines from commercial vineyards. We also described the main characteristics of this physiological disorder.

Sample collection and preparation

During the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 growing seasons, lignified shoots, leaves and grape bunches from Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot vines, both healthy and those exhibiting PBD, were analyzed from eight commercial vineyards located in four viticultural valleys in Chile (Aconcagua, Maipo, Rapel and Curicó). Photographs were taken in the field and, using a Nikon SMZ800 Stereoscopic Microscope, in the laboratory. Shoots, bunch stems and pedicels were prepared for microscopic analysis and pathogen detection.

Grape berry ripening parameters were analyzed at commercial harvest from ten clusters per vineyard (five healthy and five showing PBD). Berries from a single plant for each date were grouped and a subset of 200 berries was weighed and then crushed for measuring juice volume, pH and total soluble solids using a hand held refractometer. Anthocyanin concentration was measured as described by Boss et al. (1996). A 0.5 g sample of 10-20 ground berry skins was added to 1 ml of methanol and the anthocyanins were extracted for 1 hr at -20ºC. Grape tissue was centrifuged at 10,000 g for 15 min at 4ºC, and 5 μl of the extract diluted in 1 mL in methanol and 1% (v/v) HCI, from which an A520 nm reading was recorded.

Berries, bunch stems and leaves from healthy and PBD vines were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored separately at -80ºC until molecular studies for pathogen detection were conducted.

Optical and electronic microscopy

Shoots, peduncles and pedicels from healthy and dehydrated cv. Merlot vines were prepared for optical and electronic microscopy. For optical microscopy analysis, samples were prepared according to the method described by O'Brien and McCully (1981) with additional modifications. Samples of approximately 0.2 to 0.5 cm were fixed in FAA solution (formaldehyde 5%, acetic acid 5%, ethanol 63% and H₂O 27%) during 1 hr. Then, they were dehydrated in a series of absolute ethanol, with an increase of 20% at each stage. Samples were vacuum infiltrated and shrunk gradually in Paraplast. Samples were sectioned using a rotary microtome and stained with 0.5% (w/v) safranine and 0.5% (w/v) Fast Green. Sections were observed and photographed using a Nikon E800 Eclipse Optical Microscope.

For electronic microscopy analysis, samples were fixed in cacodylate-buffer (pH 7.2) and 3% glutaraldehyde for 3 hrs at room temperature according to Lartey et al. (1997). Samples were washed in cacodylate buffer for 1 hr, dehydrated in an acetone series (50%, 70%, 95% and 100%) and embedded in freshly prepared Embed 812 (EM Sciences, Fort Washington, PA). After overnight polymerization at 60ºC, thin sections (70-80 nm) were made using a Sorvall MT2-B ultramicrotome. Samples were stained with uranyl acetate (Epstein and Holt, 1963) followed by lead citrate (Reynolds, 1963) and examined under a Philips Tecnai 12 Transmission Electron Microscope.

Phytoplasma detection via nested PCR

Genomic DNA from leaves and raquis (the grape scaffold) from healthy and dehydrated Merlot was isolated from approximated 1.5 g of fresh tissue using a phytoplasma enrichment procedure as described by Ahrens and Seemuller (1992). A CTAB DNA extraction method (using CTAB 2% (w/v), NaCl 1.42 M, EDTA 20 mM, Tris-HCl 100 mM pH 8,0, PVP40 2% (w/v) and β-mercaptoethanol 0,5%) was then used as described by Ausubel et al (1990). DNA was RNAse treated (10 mg/ml) and incubated at 37ºC for 30 min.

PCR reactions (50 µl) contained 40 ng of genomic DNA, 1X Buffer (Invitrogen), 25 mM MgCl₂, 1 µM of each primer, 200 µM dNTPs, and 0.6 units of Taq polymerase (Invitrogen). Three primer pairs were used to amplify the DNA of phytoplasma: The universal primer pair P1 (5’-AAGAGTTTGAT CCTGGCTCAGGATT-3’) (Deng and Hiruki, 1991) and P7 (5’-CGTCCTTCATCGGCTCTT-3’) (Schneider et al. 1995) were used in direct PCR and two other primer pairs 16R758F (5’- GTCTTTACTGACGCTGAGGC-3’) /16R1232R (5’- CTTCAGCTACCCTTTGTAAC-3’) (Gibb et al. 1995) and fU5 (5’-CGGCAATGGA GGAAACT-3’)/ rU3 (5’- TTCAGCTACTCTTTGTAACA-3’) (Lorenz et al. 1995) were used in a nested PCR to amplify DNA from the same samples. Products of DNA amplifications with the primer pair P1 ⁄ P7 (1.8 kb) were diluted (1:20) and used as templates in nested PCR with the primer pairs 16R758F/16R1232R and fU5/rU3. The same thermal conditions were used for direct and nested primers as follows: a first hot start step of 94ºC for 10 min; 35 cycles of 94ºC, 30 sec; 55ºC, 45 sec; 72ºC, 30 sec; followed by a final extension period of 72ºC for 10 min. In both direct and nested PCR, the PCR amplification products were analyzed by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, stained in ethidium bromide and visualized and photographed on a UV transilluminator.

Virus detection

RT-PCR was performed in order to test the presence of eleven viruses in healthy or dehydrated cv. Merlot samples from all vineyards evaluated. Total RNA from leaves was isolated according to Reid et al. (2006), using a CTAB-Spermidine extraction buffer. Following precipitation with LiCl, the RNA pellet was redissolved in Qiagen RNeasy Buffer and purified according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Qiagen). Optimal PCR primers were designed for amplification of the genomic viral sequences (Table 1). Such design was performed using the MUMMER software (Kurtz et al. 2004) that identifies all sequences which do not present any homology among the viral genomes selected. PCR reactions (25 µl) contained 1-10 ng of cDNA, 2.5 mM MgCl_2, 400 µM dNTPs, 250 nM of each primer, 0.16 mg/ml BSA, 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, and 0.1 units/µl of Taq platinum polymerase (Invitrogen). The thermocycling regime used was as follows: a first hot start step of 94ºC for 10 min; 30 cycles of 94ºC, 45 sec; 60ºC, 1 min; 72ºC, 2 min; followed by a final extension period of 72ºC for 10 min.

PBD symptom description

General symptoms in commercial cv. Merlot grapevines with PBD differed in each vineyard and valley. It was possible to observe a progressive decline in growth; shoot length varied between 0.70 m and 1.20 m in the most affected vineyards and early leaf abscission, short internodes and advanced senescence were observed. In some cases the degree of dehydration was so advanced that almost all grapes were shriveled and had fallen to the ground. Virus-like symptoms such as leaf rolling or pigmented leaves sometimes accompanied berry dehydration.

A variety of different symptoms were associated with this disorder, including chlorosis, leaf deformation, pedicel necrosis, as well as dehydrated clusters. Such clusters were observed on vines grown in either a north-south or an east-west orientation. Plants were heterogeneously affected throughout the vineyard and not all clusters were dehydrated in a same plant.

PBD symptoms were characterized at berry ripening (Figure 1). Dehydrated clusters had a wrinkled cuticle compared with healthy grapes (Figure 1b; Figure 1c). Additionally, the peduncle remained green, whereas the pedicel acquired a red pigmentation (anthocyanin) and necrotic zones appeared (Figure 1d; Figure 1f). Throughout berry ripening, these necrotic regions extended towards the grape cluster affecting the brush structure (Figure 1h), leading ultimately to a disconnection between the plant and the grape bunch (Figure 1i).

It was possible to classify different degrees of PDB. This classification was based on measurements of berry weight, soluble solid content, pH, anthocyanin accumulation in berry skins and the volume of extracted juice (Figure 2). Data from over-ripened grape clusters (late-ripening associated disorder) was incorporated as an external group to differentiate both types of berry shrinkages. Late-ripening parameters belonged to a cv. Cabernet Sauvignon field left in the plant for one additional month compared to the commercial harvest date. Plants with PBD symptoms from a single vineyard showed sequentially each of these degrees, although their severity could depend on other biotic pathogens or cultural practices that may increase stress in the plant. Interestingly, plants collected in the same vineyard showed the same degree of PBD.

Detection of phytoplasma and viruses in PBD samples

The methods used to verify the presence of these pathogens included molecular-based tools and microscopic techniques. Examination of sections of pedicel, peduncle and lignified shoots from PBD plants by optical microscopy revealed the presence of mycoplasma-like structures in the phloem cells, as shown in Figures 3a5; Figure 3a3 and Figure 3a1, respectively.

Examination of ultrathin sections of pedicel, peduncle and shoots by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed numerous ovoid bodies localized in the phloem cells (Figure 3b). These bodies have been described in sieve tubes and companion cells of plants infected with phytoplasma (Siddique et al. 1998; Rudzinska-Langwald and Kaminska, 1999; Christensen et al. 2004; Christensen et al. 2005). These possible phytoplasmas were restricted to the phloem tissue in pedicel, peduncle and shoots and were typically between 150 to 400 nm in diameter (Herrera and Madariaga, 2003; Chang et al. 2004). No phytoplasmas were detected in healthy plants (Figure 3B).

To verify the presence and the molecular identity of the possible phytoplasma in dehydrated plants, a nested PCR assay was conducted. The universal primer pair 16R758F /16R1232R amplified a 0.5 kb fragment of the 16S rRNA phytoplasma gene. This product was sequenced and comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed 99.6% similarity to Candidatus phytoplasma mali, 99.4% to Candidatus phytoplasma pyri, 93.9% to Periwinkle witches-broom phytoplasma and Chile grapevine yellows phytoplasma, 93.7% to VK grapevine yellows phytoplasma and 93.1% to Candidatus phytoplasma australiense. Nested PCR amplification with the other primer pair fU5/rU3 amplified 850 bp fragments for all samples with dehydrated symptoms.

During monitoring of commercial vineyards, 40 grapevine samples were tested to detect phytoplasma infection by nested PCR as described previously. All samples showing PBD symptoms amplified the phytoplasma sequence. However, phytoplasmas were present in 14.3% of samples collected from asymptomatic cv. Merlot samples. In addition, asymptomatic samples from cv. Pinot noir were also found to harbour phytoplasma.

Furthermore, filamentous virus particles were detected by electron microscopy in some of the PBD samples (data not shown). To establish if these pathogens were related to the dehydration disorder, RT-PCR was performed with virus specific primers (Table 1) in samples from all vineyards. A summary of the results is shown in Table 2. Using this analysis, GLRaV-3, GLRaV-8, GFLV, RSPaV and GVB were detected, but not in all PBD-derived samples. Interestingly, plants without symptoms were greatly infected with GLRsV-1, GLRsV-3, GLRsV-8, GFLV, GVA and GVB. This analysis showed that virus infections were not associated exclusively with PBD.

In this work the PBD disorder affecting commercial plantings of Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot was evaluated in Chile. Among the symptoms, diverse processes were altered, such as vegetative growth, and particularly fruit development. Sugars concentrate while the berry gradually dehydrates, although it seems this increase is not able to produce a higher level of anthocyanins. Instead, berries present less colour and higher acidity, two signs which suggest that the berry cluster is not developing properly or ripening enough until harvest. The necrosis in the pedicel is of particular interest. It is possible to differentiate this disorder from bunch stem necrosis (BSN) which has been described in table grapes and is characterised by necrosis in all raquis and not exclusively in the pedicels.

The survey performed in commercial vineyards of cv Merlot detected the presence of phytoplasmas and viral pathogens from the Closterovirus and/or Nepovirus genuses in plants presenting PBD, although only phytoplasma were present in all dehydrated samples. These pathogens may interrupt photo-assimilate and water transport through the phloem. Furthermore, phytoplasma infection can cause anatomical aberrations such as extensive phloem necrosis and excessive formation of phloem tissue, resulting in swollen veins (Lee et al. 2000). Thus, they can be responsible for physically impairing translocation of water, solutes and photoassimilates in the phloem. As this is the most functional translocation vessel after veraison, nutrient supply to the berry diminishes drastically.

In this study, there is an association between the presence of phytoplasma, verified by electron microscopy and nested PCR, with PBD. However, virus infections may increase the severity of this disorder, as viruses also spread through the phloem to many organs, thus affecting general nutrient distribution in the plant, shifting the sink–source balance (Herbers et al. 2000; Hofius et al. 2001).

The fact that we were able to detect these pathogens in asymptomatic plants may indicate that a very low, but detectable titre may be present prior to the development of PBD. As phytoplasma cannot be cultured in vitro, Koch’s postulates cannot be demonstrated. However, the presence of phytoplasma only in samples from grape plants with PBD, both by electron microscopy and nested PCR, is a strong indication that the phytoplasma may be one of the causal agents of this disorder.

It has been previously shown that virus-infected plants suffer an important decrease in colour of the juice produced (Borgo and Angelini, 2002). Cell sugar transport can directly affect colour in berry skins as there is a genetic relationship between sugar content and anthocyanin biosynthesis. This relationship has been found in a broad of plant species, including grape (Vitrac et al. 2000). Grape flavonoid biosynthetic genes have been found to possess “sucrose boxes” in their promoters (Gollop et al. 2001; Gollop et al. 2002). These are regulatory elements which determine sugar-specific gene expression responsiveness. It is possible that during the development of the PBD disorder, and although sugars are elevated by the time healthy plants are harvested (because of water loss), sugar is not being correctly transported through the phloem in the early steps of ripening, thus affecting anthocyanin synthesis and colour accumulation. Evidence supporting this idea is the anthocyanin accumulation found in the pedicels of PDB clusters. Since sugars are not able to advance to the berry, some may accumulate at the pedicel-brush junction and induce colour synthesis.

A model explaining berry ripening in prematurely dehydrated clusters is presented in Figure 4. The onset of berry ripening begins with veraison and ends at the moment at which the maximum weight of the berry is reached. This is followed by a period of late-ripening during which the over-ripened berries suffer increasing water loss (McCarthy, 1999). Berries may exhibit this weight loss after the late stages of ripening as a consequence of a partial disconnection between the plant and the grape cluster. This disconnection is possibly facilitated by phytoplasma early in development, inducing necrosis at the end of the pedicel in the brush structure. Since this structure possesses all the vascular continuity to the berry, sugars are not transported, anthocyanins are poorly synthesised, acids are not degraded and water is lost.

Together with the occurrence of phytoplasma, environmental factors, the incidence of nematodes and agronomic management procedures, such as excessively restricted irrigation, may trigger PBD to different degrees. Since phytoplasmas were also present in plants without PBD symptoms, either these plants were in the initial stages of the disorder or climatic conditions and/or agronomic management had reduced their susceptibility to developing the disorder.

The fact that phytoplasmas were also detected in cv. Pinot noir raises the question as to whether this disorder is exclusive to cv. Merlot or whether it is already developing in other cultivars. In addition, the influence of agricultural practices and climatic conditions on phytoplasma incidence and the development of PBD needs to be addressed in future studies.

Although it was possible to correlate the incidence of phytoplasmas with the PBD-affected clusters, the PBD disorder may indeed be caused by several factors acting in a concerted manner. Developing diagnostic strategies and understanding the plant's response are crucial factors for optimizing agronomic management. In addition, direct effective control strategies need to be developed.

We thank Dr Michael Handford for critically reading the manuscript.

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