Nanoparticles doped with methyl jasmonate: Foliar application to Monastrell vines under two watering regimes. An alternative to improve the 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 of foliar applications of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) nanoparticles and ACP doped with methyl jasmonate (ACP-MeJ), as elicitor, under rainfed and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) grapevines, on grape aroma composition during 2019 and 2020.

RESULTS: In both 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 treatments increased limonene, p-cymene, α-terpineol, TDN, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal and methyl jasmonate concentration respect to control. In 2020, rainfed regime treated with ACP-MeJ, only increased nonanoic acid content. Grape volatile compounds were most influenced by season and watering status, while 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. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.