Preliminary Study of the Genetic Response of Grapevine Buds to a Preventive Natural Polysaccharide-Based Biogel Under Simulated Late Frost Conditions

Alessandra Zombardo, Simone Garavelloni, Chiara Biselli (), Agostino Fricano, Paolo Bagnaresi, Marco Ammoniaci and Mauro Eugenio Maria D’Arcangelo
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Alessandra Zombardo: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, AR, Italy
Simone Garavelloni: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, AR, Italy
Chiara Biselli: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, AR, Italy
Agostino Fricano: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, PC, Italy
Paolo Bagnaresi: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, Via La Canapona, 1 bis, 47121 Forlì, FC, Italy
Marco Ammoniaci: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, AR, Italy
Mauro Eugenio Maria D’Arcangelo: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, AR, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Late spring frosts represent a major threat to grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.), a risk increasingly exacerbated by climate change-driven shifts in phenology. To explore sustainable strategies for frost mitigation, this study investigated the effect of a natural polysaccharide-based biogel, derived from carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.), on the molecular response of grapevine buds exposed to severe cold stress. To this aim, a preliminary RNA-Seq analysis was carried out to compare the transcriptomes of biogel-treated frozen buds (BIOGEL), untreated frozen buds (NTF), and unstressed controls (TNT). The transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive reprogramming of gene expression under freezing stress, highlighting the involvement of pathways related to membrane stabilization, osmotic adjustment, and metabolic regulation. Interestingly, the biogel treatment appeared to attenuate the modulation of several cold-responsive genes, particularly those associated with membrane functionality. Based on these preliminary transcriptomic data, twelve candidate genes, representative of the functional classes affected by biogel treatment, were selected for qRT-PCR validation. The expression patterns confirmed the RNA-Seq trends, further suggesting that biogel application might mitigate the typical transcriptional activation induced by frost, while supporting genes involved in cellular protection and integrity maintenance. The overall analyses suggest that the biogel may act through a dual mechanism: (i) providing a physical barrier that reduces cold-induced cellular damage and stress perception, and (ii) promoting a selective adjustment of gene expression that restrains excessive defense activation while enhancing membrane stability. Although further field validation is required, this natural and biodegradable formulation represents a promising and sustainable tool for mitigating late frost injuries in viticulture.

Keywords: cold acclimation; cold hardiness; freezing stress; natural products; transcriptionally altered genes; sustainability; Vitis vinifera (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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