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We are pleased to announce the publication of a new research article titled “Annual transcriptomic trajectory of grapevine buds reveals the coordinated regulation of thiamine and stilbenoid biosynthesis during winter dormancy” in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Plant Biology.
Bud dormancy is a crucial survival strategy that allows perennial plants to withstand harsh winter conditions in temperate climates. While previous studies have examined gene expression at specific stages of the grapevine bud annual cycle, a comprehensive, season-wide view of the underlying molecular processes has been lacking.
In this study, the authors performed a meta-analysis of transcriptomic datasets from two landmark studies on grapevine bud development. By integrating these datasets and applying Self-Organizing Maps, gene expression patterns were grouped into three major seasonal clusters: summer-upregulated, winter-upregulated, and intermediate. This approach enabled a holistic view of transcriptional dynamics across the entire annual cycle.
The analysis revealed that genes upregulated during the winter months were strongly enriched in pathways related to stilbenoid biosynthesis and thiamine (vitamin B1) biosynthesis. A detailed examination of these pathways showed a pronounced and coordinated increase in the expression of key genes during the coldest period of the year. Stilbenoids are well known for their role in stress responses and defense, while thiamine is essential for core metabolic functions and stress resilience. The coordinated activation of these pathways suggests that grapevine buds fine-tune their internal metabolic state to ensure survival during winter dormancy while remaining prepared for renewed growth in spring.
The study provides new insight into the molecular strategies that enable grapevine buds to maintain viability under prolonged cold stress. In particular, it confirms the stress-responsive role of stilbenoids and uncovers a previously underappreciated role for thiamine biosynthesis in bud dormancy regulation.
Authors: Tomáš Konečný, Armine Asatryan, Hans Binder
This work was carried out as part of the functional genomics research program of the grapevine genomics group at the ABI Binder Lab, contributing to a deeper understanding of perennial plant adaptation at the molecular level.
Read the paper here.
