Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to determine combined effects of irrigation and canopy management practices on grapevine water status, growth, yield and juice characteristics. The field study was carried out with Shiraz/110R grapevines in the Breede River Valley. Grapevines were drip irrigated at 30%, 60% and 90% plant available water (PAW) depletion, respectively. For each PAW level, grapevines had (i) suckered, vertical shoot positioned (VSP), (ii) non-suckered, VSP and (iii) sprawling canopies. Treatments were replicated three times in a randomised block design and applied during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Irrigation applied at low PAW depletion levels, i.e. high frequency irrigation, required substantially higher irrigation volumes compared to high depletion levels, i.e. low frequency irrigation. Low frequency irrigation increased grapevine water constraints compared to high frequency irrigation. Sprawling canopy grapevines experienced more water constraints than VSP grapevines. Grapevines irrigated at 90% PAW depletion experienced strong water constraints. Low frequency irrigation seemed to accelerate berry ripening compared to high frequencies, probably due to smaller berries and lower yields. Sprawling canopies consistently enhanced berry ripening due to more sunlight interception by the leaves. Berry ripening of VSP grapevines was slower, but inconsistent between seasons. Level of PAW depletion and canopy management practice did not affect number of leaves per primary shoot. Low frequency irrigation reduced number of leaves per secondary shoot. Leaf number per shoot contributed more to total leaf area than leaf size. Level of PAW depletion did not affect number of shoots per grapevine. Suckering reduced number of shoots per grapevine. Low frequency irrigation reduced total leaf area per grapevine compared to high frequency irrigation. Effects of canopy management practice were more pronounced in the case of high frequency irrigation compared to low frequency irrigation. At pruning, primary cane length was not affected by level of PAW depletion or canopy management practice. Secondary cane mass and diameter were not affected by canopy management practice. Multiple linear regression showed that cane mass was a function of cane length and diameter. Low frequency irrigation reduced berry mass compared to high frequency irrigation, irrespective of canopy management practice. However, at harvest there was no difference in berry mass between 30% and 60% PAW depletion. Low irrigation The objective of the study was to determine combined effects of irrigation and canopy management practices on grapevine water status, growth, yield and juice characteristics. The field study was carried out with Shiraz/110R grapevines in the Breede River Valley. Grapevines were drip irrigated at 30%, 60% and 90% plant available water (PAW) depletion, respectively. For each PAW level, grapevines had (i) suckered, vertical shoot positioned (VSP), (ii) non-suckered, VSP and (iii) sprawling canopies. Treatments were replicated three times in a randomised block design and applied during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Irrigation applied at low PAW depletion levels, i.e. high frequency irrigation, required substantially higher irrigation volumes compared to high depletion levels, i.e. low frequency irrigation. Low frequency irrigation increased grapevine water constraints compared to high frequency irrigation. Sprawling canopy grapevines experienced more water constraints than VSP grapevines. Grapevines irrigated at 90% PAW depletion experienced strong water constraints. Low frequency irrigation seemed to accelerate berry ripening compared to high frequencies, probably due to smaller berries and lower yields. Sprawling canopies consistently enhanced berry ripening due to more sunlight interception by the leaves. Berry ripening of VSP grapevines was slower, but inconsistent between seasons. Level of PAW depletion and canopy management practice did not affect number of leaves per primary shoot. Low frequency irrigation reduced number of leaves per secondary shoot. Leaf number per shoot contributed more to total leaf area than leaf size. Level of PAW depletion did not affect number of shoots per grapevine. Suckering reduced number of shoots per grapevine. Low frequency irrigation reduced total leaf area per grapevine compared to high frequency irrigation. Effects of canopy management practice were more pronounced in the case of high frequency irrigation compared to low frequency irrigation. At pruning, primary cane length was not affected by level of PAW depletion or canopy management practice. Secondary cane mass and diameter were not affected by canopy management practice. Multiple linear regression showed that cane mass was a function of cane length and diameter. Low frequency irrigation reduced berry mass compared to high frequency irrigation, irrespective of canopy management practice. However, at harvest there was no difference in berry mass between 30% and 60% PAW depletion. Low irrigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die gekombineerde effek van besproeiing en lowerbestuurspraktyke op wingerd waterstatus, groei, opbrengs en druiwesap eienskappe te bepaal. Die veld studie is uitgevoer met Shiraz/110R wingerdstokke in die Breede Rivier Vallei. Wingerdstokke was d.m.v. drupbesproeiing teen 30%, 60% en 90% plant beskikbare water (PBW) ontrekking, onderskeidelik besproei. Vir elke PBW ontrekkingspeil, was wingerdstokke (i) gesuier en vertikale lootposisionering toegepas, (ii) ongesuier en vertikale lootposisionering toegepas en (iii) geen lowerbestuur toegepas nie (lowers wat oophang). Behandelings is drie keer in ‘n ewekansige blokontwerp herhaal en tydens die 2011/12 en 2012/13 seisoene toegepas. Besproeiing wat teen ‘n lae PBW ontrekkingspeil toegedien is, d.w.s. hoë frekwensie besproeiing, vereis aansienlik hoër besproeiings volumes i.v.m. hoë besproeiing ontrekkingspeile, d.w.s. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het meer watertekorte as vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke ervaar. Wingerdstokke wat teen 90% PBW ontrekking besproei was, het sterk watertekorte ervaar. Dit het voorgekom of lae frekwensie besproeiing korrelrypwording versnel het i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Dit was heelwaarskynlik a.g.v. kleiner korrels en laer opbrengste. Wingerdstokke wat oophang het, het konsekwent korrelrypwording versnel a.g.v. meer sonligonderskepping deur die blare. Korrelrypwording van vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke was stadiger, maar teenstrydig tussen die seisoene. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil en lowerbestuurspraktyke het geen invoeld gehad op die aantal blare per primêre loot nie. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het die aantal blare per sekondêre loot verminder. Die hoeveelheid blare per loot het ‘n groter bygedra gemaak i.v.m. blaar grootte. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil het geen invloed gehad op die aantal lote per wingerdstok nie. Suier verminder die aantal lote per wingerdstok. Lae frekwensie besproeiing verminder die totale blaar oppervlak i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Die effek van lowerebestuurspraktyke is duideliker sigbaar by hoë frekwensie besproeiing i.v.m. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Primêre lootlengte was nie deur PBW ontrekkingspeil of lowerbestuurspraktyke beïnvloed nie. Sekondêre lootmassa en -deursnit is nie deur lowerbestuurspraktyk beïnvloed nie. Meervoudige lineêre regressie het getoon dat lootmassa ‘n funksie van lootlengte en -deursnit was. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het korrelmassa verminder ongeag die lowerbestuurspraktyk i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Daar was egter geen verskil in korrelmassa by oes tussen 30% en 60% PBW ontrekking nie. Lae frekwensie besproeiing was geneig om suiker akkumulasie te versnel i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het, het veral by lae frekwensie besproeiing korrelrypwording versnel i.v.m. vertikaal lootgeposisioneeide wingerdstokke. Suikerinhoud per korrel het geneig om toe te neem totdat dit ‘n plato bereik het. Hierdie plato was meer prominent by hoë frekwensie besproeiing i.v.m. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het, het ook hierdie plato vroeër bereik i.v.m. vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. By oes was die totale titreerbare suur (TTS) hoër vir wingerdstokke wat vroeër geoes was. As gevolg van versnelde rypwording was TTS van wingerdstokke wat teen lae frekwensie besproei is hoër i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. ‘n Ligter oeslading in verhouding tot ‘n hoër blaaroppervlak het ook gelei tot hoër TTS by oes. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil en lowerbestuurspraktyke het geen invloed op die pH gehad met oes nie. Die hoeveelheid trosse per wingerdstok het nie duidelike tendense gewys wat verbind kon word met watertekorte wat deur die stokke ervaar is nie. Gesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke het die hoeveelheid trosse per stok verminder i.v.m. die ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke en wingerstokke wat oopgehang het. Trosmassa het dieselfde tendense as korrels per tros gevolg. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het opbrengs aansienlik verminder i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Gesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke het geneig om opbrengste te verminder i.v.m. ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. Hierdie effek het egter verdwyn waar wingerdstokke teen 90% PBW ontrekking besproei was. Druif skade a.g.v. suurvrot was meer prominent by hoë frekwensie besproeiing, veral vir ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. Total opbrengs verlies, uitgedruk as ‘n persentasie, was hoofsaaklik ‘n funksie van sonbrand eerder as ‘n funksie van suurvrot.

Dissertation (PhD) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In most plants the efficiency of sucrose production and the systemic distribution thereof are the major determinants of growth, development and yield. The factors governing sugar partitioning co-ordinate its distribution in response to intrinsic and environmental signals. These factors include sugar transporters and invertases as well as metabolites, including sucrose and glucose, which function as signalling molecules to modulate gene expression. The genetic transformation of plants and the subsequent development of transgenic lines with disturbed sugar metabolism have made an unprecedented impact on the study of sugar translocation and -partitioning. For instance, the transformation of plants with a yeast-derived invertase targeted to different subcellular compartments has led to the elucidation of several key aspects of sugar metabolism, including phloem loading mechanisms, the regulation of photosynthesis by sugars, the importance of sugar-metabolism compartmentation with regards to sucrose biosynthesis, storage and distribution, as well as the role of cell-wall invertase in phloem unloading and sink strength. In this study, a similar strategy of transgenic plant analysis was employed to expand our insight into the regulation of sugar partitioning. The yeast-invertase Suc2 gene, from Saccharomyces cere visiae , was overexpressed in either the cytosol, vacuole or apoplast of transgenic tobacco plants. These transgenic lines displayed varying increases in invertase activity, altered sugar levels and consequently disturbed sink-source interactions and sugar partitioning. Transgenic lines overproducing the yeast-derived invertase in either the vacuole (Vac-Inv) or apoplast (Apo-Inv) were utilised to analyse the effect of the altered sugar levels in sink and source organs on the expression of sugar transporters, as well as the endogenous cell wall invertase and inhibitors in these plants. Transcript levels of the sucrose transporter NtSUT1 and hexose transporter NtMST1 encoding genes increased significantly in the source leaves and roots of Vac-Inv lines, whereas increased NtMst1 transcript levels were also detected in the roots of Apo-Inv lines. The increased mRNA levels could be correlated to the altered invertase activities and sugar levels in these tissues. It is concluded that NtSUT1 and NtMST1 are differentially regulated by sucrose and/or hexose content on a transcriptional level. Furthermore, the regulatory effect of the altered sugar levels on transporter expression depended on the subcellular compartment in which the yeast invertase was expressed. It would seem that the subcellular compartmentation of sugar metabolism is also fundamental to the regulation of sugar partitioning. The transcription levels of the endogenous cell wall invertase (CWt) and cell wall invertase inhibitor (Cwi-Inh) genes were examined in the various tissues of Apo-Inv and Vac-Inv lines at both the vegetative and flowering growth stages. In comparison with the control lines, the various tissues of the Apo-Inv and Vac-Inv lines displayed altered Cwi and Cwi-Inh expression levels, depending on the sink-source status and growth stage. However, no obvious correlation between the Cwi and Cwi-Inh expression levels and soluble sugar content of these tissues was found. It is suggested that the post-transcriptional and post-translation control of these proteins by sugars might play an important role in their regulation. Analysis of the Cwi:Cwi-lnh mRNA ratio and growth observations of the various tissues of control as well as Apo-Inv and Vac-Inv lines indicated that this transcription ratio could be an accurate indicator of the sink strength of sink organs. In addition, the influence of sink-source interactions on sugar partitioning was investigated. Reciprocal grafting between Apo-Inv and control lines resulted in scions with an altered sucrose metabolism in either the sink or source organs. These scions were subjected to biomass distribution, soluble sugar quantification and C4C]- radiolabelling experiments. The latter revealed an unaltered state of sugar partitioning from the above-ground tissues of the Apo/GUS scions and a significant shift in sugar partitioning towards the roots of the GUS/Apo scions in comparison to the control GUS/GUS scions. Phenotypic changes, opposite to those observed in Apo-Inv lines expressing the heterologous invertase in both sink and source organs, could initially be observed in the GUS/Apo and Apo/GUS scions. However, no significant differences in phenotype or biomass distribution could be observed between the mature GUS/Apo, Apo/GUS and GUS/GUS scions seven weeks postgrafting. This inconsistency between phenotype and sugar partitioning might be explained by an increase in the respiration rate of the tissues as supported by the soluble sugar content. These results highlight the complexity and adaptability of sucrose metabolism and sugar partitioning. In addition, it confirms that sugar partitioning can be modulated by sink-source interactions and emphasise the importance of invertases in the regulation of sugar partitioning through its ability to alter sink strength. This study forms part of the rapidly expanding initiative to unravel the control mechanisms of sugar partitioning. The results obtained in this study confirmed again that the introduction and expression of a single heterologous gene in transgenic plants could provide significant insight into the regulation of this process. It was shown here that the expression of sugar transporters is closely regulated by sugar levels and therefore fulfils a vital function in sugar sensing and consequently the regulation of sugar partitioning. The data presented in this study also demonstrated the intricate and flexible nature of the relationship that exists between sugar metabolism, partitioning and growth phenomena. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doeltreffendheid van sukroseproduksie, tesame met die sistemiese verspreiding daarvan, is die vernaamste faktore wat die groei, ontwikkeling en opbrengsvermoë van die meeste plante bepaal. Die faktore wat suikerverdeling beheer, funksioneer om suikerverspreiding te koordineer in reaksie op beide inherente- en omgewingsseine. Hierdie faktore sluit suikertransporters en invertases in, asook metaboliete soos sukrose en glukose wat funksioneer as seinmolekule in die modulering van geenuitdrukking. Die genetiese transformasie van plante en die gevolglike daarstelling van transgeniese lyne met veranderde suikermetabolismes het 'n beduidende inwerking op die bestudering van suikervervoer en -verdeling gehad. Byvoorbeeld, die transformasie van plante met 'n gis-invertase geteiken na verskillende sub-sellulêre kompartemente, het tot die toeligting van verskeie aspekte van suikermetabolisme gelei, insluitende dié van floëemladingsmeganismes, die regulering van fotosintese deur suikers, die belang van kompartementalisering ten opsigte van sukrosebiosintese, -opberging en -verspreiding, en die rol van selwand-invertases in floëemontlaaiing en swelgpuntkrag. In hierdie studie is van soortgelyke transgeniese plantontledings gebruik gemaak om 'n dieper insig tot die regulering van suikerverdeling te verkry. Die gis-invertase Suc2 geen, afkomstig van Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is ooruitgedruk in óf die sitosol, vakuool óf apoplastiese ruimte van transgeniese tabakplante. Hierdie transgeniese lyne het wisselende toenames in invertase-aktiwiteite en veranderde suikervlakke getoon, asook gevolglike versteurde bron-swelgpunt interaksies en suikerverdeling. Transgeniese lyne met ooruitdrukking van die gis-invertase in óf die vakuool (Vac-Inv) óf die apoplast (Apo-Inv) is gebruik om die gevolg van die veranderde suikervlakke in bron- en swelgpuntorgane op die uitdrukking van suikertransporters, asook die endogene selwand-invertase en invertase-inhibitor in hierdie plante te bepaal. Transkripsievlakke van die sukrosetransporter NtSut1 en die heksosetransporter, NtMst1, het beduidend toegeneem in die bron-blare en wortels van die Vac-Inv lyne; 'n toename in NtMst1 transkripsievlakke is ook in die wortels van Apo-Inv lyne bevestig. Die toenames in boodskapper RNA kon gekorreleer word met die veranderde invertase-aktiwiteite en suikervlakke in hierdie weefsels. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat NtSUT1 en NtMST1 differensieël gereguleer word op transkripsionele vlak deur die sukrose en/of heksose inhoud van weefsels. Meer nog, die regulerende effek van die veranderde suikervlakke op transporteruitdrukking het afgehang van die subsellulêre kompartement waarin die gis-invertase uitgedruk is. Dit wil dus voorkom dat die subsellulêre kompartementalisering van suikermetabolisme fundamenteel tot die deurgee en waarneming van suikerseine is, met In gevolglike eweneens belangrike rol in die regulering van suikerverdeling. Die transkripsievlakke van beide die endogene selwand-invertase (CWI) en die selwand-invertase-inhibitor (CWI-Inh) enkoderende gene is in verskeie weefsels van die Apo-Inv en Vac-Inv lyne, tydens beide die vegetatiewe- en blomstadia, bestudeer. Die onderskeie weefsels van die Apo-Inv en Vac-Inv lyne het, in vergelyking met die kontrole lyne, veranderde Cwi en Cwi-inh transkripsievlakke getoon wat bepaal is deur bron-swelgpunt status en groeistadium. Geen duidelike korrelasie kon tussen beide Cwi en Cwi-inh uitdrukkingsvlakke en oplosbare suiker inhoud gevind word nie. Daar word voorgestel dat post-transkripsionele en posttranslasionele beheer deur suikers 'n belangrike rol in die regulering van hierdie proteïne speel. Bestudering van die Cwi:Cwi-lnh mRNA verhouding, asook groei verskynsels van die onderskeie weefsels van kontrole en Apo-Inv en Vac-Inv lyne, dui daarop dat hierdie transkripsievlak-verhouding moontlik 'n akkurate aanwyser van die swelgpuntkrag van 'n swelgpuntorgaan kan wees. Voorts is die invloed van bron-swelgpuntorgaan interaksies op suikerverdeling ondersoek. Omgekeerde enting tussen Apo-Inv en kontrole lyne het entlote met gemodifiseerde suikermetabolisme in óf hul bron- óf hul swelgpuntorgane tot gevolg gehad. Hierdie entlote is aan biomassaverspreidings-, oplosbare suiker kwantifisering en C4C]-radiomerking eksperimente onderwerp. Hierdie resultate het gewys dat, in vergelyking met die kontrole (GUS/GUS) ente, daar geen verandering in die status van suikerverdeling vanaf die bogrondse plantdele in die Apo/GUS ente is nie, maar wel 'n beduidende verskuiwing in suikerverdeling na die wortels van die GUS/Apo ente. Fenotipiese veranderinge, wat teenoorgesteld van dié teenwoordig in die Apo- Inv lyne waar die heteroloë invertase in beide bron en swelgpuntorgane uitgedruk word, is aanvanklik in die GUS/Apo en Apo/GUS ente waargeneem. Geen verskille in fenotipe of biomassa-verspreiding kon egter sewe weke na die entings prosedures tussen die GUS/Apo, Apo/GUS and GUS/GUS ente gevind word nie. Dit mag verduidelik word deur 'n moontlike toename in respirasietempo in die betrokke weefsels; die oplosbare suikervlakke wat in die verskillende ente aangeteken is ondersteun dié moontlikheid. Hierdie resultate as geheelonderstreep die kompleksiteit en aanpasbaarheid van suikermetabolisme en -verdeling. Verder bevestig dit dat suikerverdeling beïnvloed kan word deur bron-swelgpunt interaksies, asook die belang van invertases in die regulering van suikerverdeling gegewe die vermoë om swelgpuntkrag te verander. Hierdie studie vorm deel van 'n vinnig groeiende inisiatief om die beheermeganismes van suikerverdeling te ontrafel. Die resultate verkry in hierdie studie bekragtig die belang van rekombinante DNA tegnologie in die bestudering van fundamentele plantprosesse. Die invoeging en uitdrukking van 'n geteikende gisinvertase in transgeniese plante het gelei tot veranderde suikervlakke en bronswelgpunt interaksies in hierdie lyne met die gevolglike ontginning van waardevolle inligting ten opsigte van die regulering van suikerverdeling in reaksie tot interne seine. Daar is aangetoon dat suikertransporters onlosmaakbaar gekoppel is aan die deurgee en waarneming van suikerseine, spesifiek op die vlak van transkripsionele regulering, en dus ook die regulering van suikerverdeling. Voorts wys die resultate op die komplekse en aanpasbare aard van die verhouding wat bestaan tussen suikermetabolisme, -verdeling en groeiverskynsels.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Flocculation can be defined as the asexual aggregation of yeast cells in a liquid environment. This aggregation of cells, also referred to as "floc formation", will in most cases lead to rapid settling or sedimentation. However, in so-called top-fermenting yeast strains, the floes can move to the surface of the liquid growth substrate to form a thin layer, called a "velum", that has been compared to other microbial biofilms. The factors that trigger flocculation can be divided into two groups, physical/chemical (e.g. sugar content, the presence of inorganic salts, organic solvents, ethanol concentration, pH, agitation etc.) and genetic factors (genes that encode for proteins that are either directly or indirectly involved in flocculation). In top-fermenting yeast strains, several physical and chemical factors that trigger the process have been described, including ethanol concentration, the presence of organic solvents, the absence of molecular oxygen and the presence of inorganic salts (Ca2+ and Mg2+). These factors appear to affect the cell hydrophobicity and the cell surface charge. As for genetic factors, no specific genes have thus far been associated with flocculation in top fermenting yeast strains. In bottom-fermenting yeast strains, the physical and chemical factors that affect the process are similar to the ones described for top-fermenting yeast strains, but include, more specifically, the concentration of hexoses in the media (mannose or glucose), which may inhibit the process. Indeed, flocculation in bottom-fermenting yeast strains has been divided into the NewFlo type (inhibited by both mannose and glucose) and the Fl01 type (inhibited by mannose) on the basis of the inhibitory effect of specific sugars. Various genes have been associated with the flocculation of bottom-fermenting yeast strains. Through genetic analysis, the genes have been categorised into dominant genes, semidominant genes and recessive genes. In order to better understand the role of some of the proteins responsible for flocculation in S. cerevisiae, and to create strains whose flocculation properties would correspond to those wanted in the wine and beer industries, three of the dominant flocculation genes, FL01, FL05 and FL011, were placed under the control of the promoters of the stationary phase-induced genes, ADH2 and HSP30. This was achieved by replacing the native promoters of the flocculation genes with the heterologous promoters through homologous recombination. The laboratory strain FY23, which is nonflocculent due to the absence of the transcription factor that is required for flocculation, F108p,was used as a model system. Some of the transformed strains showed high flocculation, especially when the genes were placed under control of the ADH2 promoter. In addition to this, the strains carrying a modified FL011 gene showed increased adhesion to solid agar media and were able to invade the growth substrate. These strains also showed an increased velum-forming ability when grown in media containing only non-fermentable carbon sources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Flokkulasie kan gedefinieër word as die ongeslagtelike aggregasie van gisselle in 'n vloeibare medium. Hierdie aggregasie van selle, kan ook na verwys word as flok formasie, en in meeste gevalle lei dit tot In vinnige sedimentering. In oppervlak-fermenterende giste, beweeg die flokke na die oppervlakte van die vloeibare medium om sodoende 'n flor -lagie te vorm. Hierdie verskynsel was ook al gevind in ander organismes. Verskeie faktore is verantwoordelik vir die effektiwiteit van flokkuklasie. Hierdie faktore kan in twee groepe verdeel word, nl. fisiese en chemiese faktore (byv. suikerkonsentrasie, die teenwoordigheid van anorganiese soute, organiese oplossings, etanol konsentrasie, pH, ens.) en genetiese faktore (gene wat kodeer vir die proteïene wat of direk of indirek betrokke is by flokkulasie). In oppervlak-fermenterende giste is daar al heelwat informasie beskikbaar omtrent fisies en chemiese faktore se effekte op flokkulasie. Van die faktore waarvan heelwat informasie beskikbaar is sluit in, etanol konsentrasie, die teenwoordigheid van organiese oplossings, die afwesigheid van molekulêre suurstof en die teenwoordigheid van anorganiese soute (Ca2+ en Mg2+). Hierdie faktore toon 'n effek of hidrofobisiteit en elektriese lading op die seloppervlakte. Geen genetiese faktore kon tot dusver gekoppel word aan flokkulasie in oppervlak-fermenterende giste nie. Benede-oppervlak fermenterende giste se fisies en chemiese faktore wat effektiwiteit van flokkulasie beïnvloed is dieselfde as die van oppervlak-fermenterende giste, maar sluit in meer spesifiek, die konsentrasie van heksoses in die media (nl. mannose en glukose), wat 'n inhiberende effek het op flokkulasie. Die benede-oppervlak fermenterende giste se flokkulasie kan in twee segmente verdeel word nl. die NewFlo tipe (word geïnhibeer deur die teenwoordigheid van mannose en glukose) en die Flo1-tipe (word geïnhibeer deur slegs die teenwoordigheid van mannose). Verskeie gene was ook al geidentifiseer wat die effektiwiteit van flokkulasie beïnvloed in benede-oppervlak fermenterende giste. Hierdie gene kan in drie kategorieë opverdeel word, nl dominante-, semi-dominante- en ressessiewe flokkulerende gene. Ten orde 'n beter begrip te kry rondom die proteïene verantwoordelik vir die meeste effektiwiteit ten opsigte van flokkulasie in S. cerevisiae, asook om giste te manipuleer om spesifieke flokkulasie eienskappe te toon volgens die belange van die wyn en bierindustrieë, was drie dominante flokkulerende gene, nl. FL01, FL05, en FL011, onder regulering van stationêre fase-geïnduseerde promotors, PADH2 en PHSP30, geplaas. Dit was verkry deur die vervanging van die wilde tipe promotors van die drie gene met die stationêre fase-geïnduseerde promotors deur middel van homoloë rekombinasie. Die laboratorium gisras, FY23, wat 'n nie-flokkulerende gisras is vanweë die afwesigheid van 'n transkripsionele faktor, Flo8p, wat verantwoordelik is vir die aktivering van belangrike gene in flokkulasie, was gebruik as 'n wilde tipe ras. Sommige van die transformante het In hoë mate van flokkulasie getoon, veral wanneer onder die regulering van die PADH2. Tesame met laasgenoemde verskynsel, was daar gevind dat FL011-transformante 'n verhoging in hul vermoeë het om te bind aan die agar en ook om die agar te penetreer. Laasgenoemde gisrasse het ook die vermoë getoon om 'n flor-lagie te vorm bo-op die oppervlakte van die medium, maar slegs wanneer dit in niefermenteerbare koolstofbronbevattende media opgegroei word.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The presence and growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in wine and their influence on wine quality has received much attention in recent years. Lactic acid bacteria are responsible for conducting malolactic fermentation (MLF) in wine. The benefits associated with malolactic fermentation in terms of deacidification of wine and the contribution to wine flavour and complexity have also recently been the topic of research. It is impossible to describe malolactic fermentation as distinctly desirable or undesirable in terms of its influence on the final quality of wine. The benefits and disadvantages are dependent upon viticultural region, grape variety, wine composition, winemaking techniques and the style and objectives of the winemaker. Brandy production is a multi-stage process in which base wine production, distillation technique and wood maturation all have a large influence on the final chemical profile and organoleptic quality of the brandy. The volatile composition of the base wine, which basically undergoes a concentration process during the subsequent double distillation phase, is critical in determining the aroma and flavour quality of the final brandy product. Thus, the brandy is only as good as the base wine it is distilled from. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of lactic acid bacteria and spontaneous malolactic fermentation on the quality of brandy base wine and the resulting distillate, and to determine which LAB species had been responsible for the occurrence of spontaneous MLF. This study showed that LAB are present at high numbers and are able to conduct spontaneous MLF of brandy base wines. It was shown that the incidence of spontaneous MLF varied from year to year. In 1998, 50% of the commercially produced base wines had undergone partial MLF prior to distillation. In 1999 and 2000 respectively, 34% and 45% of the commercial base wines had undergone partial MLF prior to distillation. The occurrence of spontaneous MLF had an influence on the chemical composition and the sensory quality of the base wine and distillate. There was an increase in the concentrations of ethyl lactate, acetic acid and diethyl succinate in samples that had undergone MLF. There was also a decrease in the concentrations of esters, such as iso-amyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl caproate, hexyl acetate and 2-phenethyl acetate in these same samples. Sensory evaluation of the base wines and distillates demonstrated that samples that had undergone MLF differed significantly from samples that had not undergone MLF. It was also shown that distillates that had not undergone MLF had a slightly better aroma profile than those that had. Sweet aromas, like chocolate and caramel, as well as negative aromas, like chemical or solvent, were more prominent in brandy distillates that had undergone MLF. Herbaceous and fruity aromas were more intense in distillates not having undergone MLF. Fifty-four strains, all Gram-positive and catalase negative, were isolated at different stages of brandy production. Seven strains were isolated from the grape juice, 15 strains were isolated from the base wine, 20 strains were isolated during MLF and 12 strains were isolated from the base wine after MLF had been completed. Based on C02 production from glucose and gluconate, 17 strains were classified as facultatively heterofermentative and 37 strains as obligately heterofermentative. Fifteen of the 37 obligately heterofermentative strains were rod-shaped and were regarded as lactobacilli. The remaining 22 strains were oval or cocci-bacilli shaped. The isolates were identified to species level by using numerical analysis of the total soluble cell protein patterns, 16S rRNAsequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with species-specific primers. The facultative heterofermentative lactobacilli were identified as Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus p/antarum. The fifteen obligately heterofermentative lactobacilli were identified as members of the species Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus verrniforme, Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus hi/gardii. The 22 obligate heterofermentative isolates, with a coccoid morphology, could be grouped into two clusters and were identified as Oenococcus oeni. O. oeni was the species responsible for the occurrence of spontaneous MLF in most of the commercial base wines. Lb. brevis, Lb. hi/gardii and Lb. paracasei were also isolated from commercial base wines that had undergone spontaneous MLF. In nine out of 14 experimental base wine samples that had undergone spontaneous MLF, O. oeni was again the predominant species. Lb. brevis, Lb. hi/gardii and Lb. paracasei were identified in the remaining experimental base wine samples. This is the first report of the presence of Lb. perecese! and Lb. vermiforme in brandy base wine. It was shown that the occurrence of spontaneous MLF had a negative effect on the quality of brandy base wine, but that was shown to be due to the different species and strains performing MLF. In the non-preferred distillate samples, Lactobacillus spp. had performed MLF or had developed after or during MLF. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die teenwoordigheid en die vermoë van melksuurbakterieë (MSB) om in wyn te groei, is 'n onderwerp wat al heelwat nagevors is. Melksuurbakterieë is verantwoordelik vir die uitvoering van appelmelksuurgisting (AMG) in wyn. Die voordele verbonde aan appelmelksuurgisting, ten opsigte van die verlaging van die totale suurinhoud en die bydrae tot die verbeterde geur en kompleksiteit van die wyn, is ook al goed bestudeer. Wat die invloed op die finale wynkwaliteit betref, is dit byna onmoontlik om AMG as uitsluitlik gewens óf ongewens te beskou. Die voordele en nadele van AMG is afhanklik van verskeie faktore, nl. wingerdkundige streek, druifkultivar, wynsamestelling, wynmaakpraktyke, asook die styl en doelwitte van die wynmaker. Die produksie van brandewyn is 'n multistapproses waarin die bereidingsmetode van die basiswyn, die distillasietegniek en houtveroudering 'n groot invloed op die finale kwaliteit en chemiese samestelling van die brandewyn het. Die vlugtige verbindings van die basiswyn, wat tydens die dubbele distillasieproses gekonsentreer word, is van wesenlike belang in die bepaling van die aroma en geur van die finale brandewynproduk. Brandewyn is dus inderdaad net so goed soos die basiswyn waarvan dit gestook is. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om te bepaal wat die invloed van MSB en die voorkoms van spontane AMG op die kwaliteit van die basiswyn en die distillaat is, asook om die MSB wat vir die voorkoms van spontane AMG verantwoordelik was, te identifiseer. Hierdie studie het bewys dat MSB in hoë getalle teenwoordig was en dat dit in staat is om die spontane AMG van basiswyne uit te voer. Daar is bewys dat die voorkoms van spontaneAMG moontlik van jaar tot jaar kan verskil. In 1998 het 50%, in 1999 het 34% en in 2000 45% van die kommersieel-geproduseerde basiswyn gedeeltelike AMG spontaan voor distillasie ondergaan. Daar is ook gevind dat spontane AMG 'n invloed op die chemiese samestelling en sensoriese kwaliteit van die basiswyn en die distillaat gehad het. Daar was 'n toename in die konsentrasies van etiellaktaat, asynsuur en diëtielsuksinaat in monsters wat spontane AMG ondergaan het. In dieselfde monsters was daar ook 'n afname in die konsentrasies van iso-amielasetaat, etielasetaat, etielkaproaat, heksielasetaat en 2-fenielasetaat. Sensoriese evaluering van die basiswyne en distillate het getoon dat daar betekenisvolle verskille was tussen die monsters wat AMG ondergaan het en dié wat nie AMG ondergaan het nie. Daar is bewys dat die distillate wat nie AMG ondergaan het nie, 'n beter aromaprofiel gehad het as dié wat AMG ondergaan het. Soet geure, soos sjokolade en karamel, en negatiewe geure, soos "chemies" en "oplosmiddel", was prominent in distillate wat AMG ondergaan het. Kruidagtige en vrugtige geure was meer intensief in distillate wat nie AMG ondergaan het nie. Vier-en-vyftig bakteriese rasse, almal Gram-positief en katalase-negatief, is gedurende die verskillende stadia van brandewynproduksie geïsoleer. Sewe rasse is uit druiwesap, 15 rasse gedurende die alkoholiese fermentasie, 20 rasse gedurende AMG en 12 rasse na voltooiing van AMG geïsoleer. Op die basis van koolstofdioksied (C02)-produksie vanaf glukose en glukonaat is 17 rasse as fakultatief heterofermentatief en 37 rasse as obligaat heterofermentatief geklassifiseer. Vyftien van die 37 obligaat-heterofermentatiewe rasse was staafvormig en is as lactobacilli geïdentifiseer. Die oorblywende 22 het ovaal of kokkus-bacillusvormige selmorfologie getoon. Identifikasie tot op spesievlak is gedoen deur van numeriese analise van die totale oplosbare selproteïenprofiele, 16S-rRNAvolgordebepalings en spesie-spesifieke inleiers vir die polimerasekettingreaksie (PKR) gebruik te maak. Die fakultatief-heterofermentatiewe rasse is as Lactobacillus paracasei en Lactobacillus p/antarum geklassifiseer. Die 15 obligaat heterofermentatiewe stafies is as Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus hi/gardii en Lactobacillus vermiforme geïdentifiseer. Die 22 ovaal, obligaat heterofermentatiewe isolate kon in twee groepe ingedeel word en is as Oenococcus oeni geïdentifiseer. Daar is bevind dat O. oeni-isolate vir die voorkoms van spontane AMG in die meeste van die kommersiêle basiswyne verantwoordelik was. Lb. brevis, Lb. hi/gardii en Lb. paracasei is ook uit kommersiêle basiswyne wat spontane AMG ondergaan het, geïsoleer. In nege uit 14 van die eksperimentele basiswyne wat spontane AMG ondergaan het, was O. oeni die dominante spesie. In die oorblywende eksperimentele wyne is Lb. brevis, Lb. hi/gardii en Lb. paracasei aangetref. Hierdie is die eerste vermelding van die teenwoordigheid van Lb. paracasei and Lb. vermiforrne in brandewynbasiswyn. Daar is gevind dat die voorkoms van spontane AMG "n negatiewe invloed op brandewynkwaliteit het, maar dit is as gevolg van die verskeidenheid van MSB-spesies en rasse wat voorkom. In die distillate wat deur die proepaneel afgekeur is, het Lactobacillus spesies die AMG deurgevoer, of het dit tydens of na AMG ontwikkel.

Thesis (PhD (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Although bananas are widely grown worldwide in many tropical and a few subtropical countries, banana beverages are still among the fruit beverages processed by use of rudimentary methods such as the use of feet or/and spear grass to extract juice. Because banana juice and beer remained on a home made basis, there is a research drive to come up with modern technologies to more effectively process bananas and to make acceptable banana juices and wines. One of the main hindrances in the production of highly desirable beverages is the pectinaceous nature of the banana fruit, which makes juice extraction and clarification very difficult. Commercial enzyme applications seem to be the major way forward in solving processing problems in order to improve banana juice and wine quality. The particular pectinolytic enzymes that were selected for this study are Rapidase CB, Rapidase TF, Rapidase X-press and OE-Lallzyme. In addition this study, investigate the applicability of recombinant yeast strains with pectinolytic, xylanolytic, glucanolytic and amylolytic activities in degrading the banana polysaccharides (pectin, xylan, glucan starch) for juice and wine extraction and product clarification. The overall objective of this research was to improve banana juice and wine by enzymatic processing techniques and to improve alcoholic fermentation and to produce limpid and shelf-stable products of clarified juice and wine. The focus was on applying the selected commercial enzyme preparations specifically for the production of better clarified banana juice and wine. This is because the turbid banana juice and beer, which contain suspended solids that are characterised by a very intense banana flavour, require a holistic approach to address challenges and opportunities in order to process pure banana beverages with desirable organoleptic qualities. The specific objectives of applying commercial enzymes in the processing of banana juice and wine, comparing with grape winemaking practices, use of recombinant yeast and analyses of various parameters in the juices and wines made have enabled generation of information that could be of help to prospective banana juice and wine processors. The research findings obtained could be used to establish a pilot plant or small-scale industry in the banana processing beverages producing large quantities,and finally the overall objective of obtaining limpid and shelf stable products would be achieved.

Thesis (PhD (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The occurrence of sluggish and stuck fermentations continues to be a serious problem in the global wine industry, leading to loss of product, low quality wines, cellar management problems and consequently to significant financial losses. Comprehensive research has shown that many different factors can act either in isolation, or more commonly synergistically, to negatively affect fermentative activity of wine yeast strains of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The individual factors most commonly referred to in the literature are various nutrient and oxygen limitations. However, other factors have been shown to contribute to the problem. Because of the mostly synergistic nature of the impacts, no single factor can usually be identified as the primary cause of stuck fermentation. In this study, several strategies to evolutionarily engineer wine yeast strains that are expected to reduce the occurrence of stuck and sluggish fermentations are investigated. In particular, the investigations focus on improving the ability of wine yeast to better respond to two of the factors that commonly contribute to the occurrence of such fermentations, nitrogen limitation and the development of an unfavorable ratio of glucose and fructose during fermentation. The evolutionary engineering strategies relied on mass-mating or mutagenesis of successful commercial wine yeast strains to generate yeast populations of diverse genetic backgrounds. These culture populations were then exposed to enrichment procedures either in continuous or sequential batch cultivation conditions while applying specific evolutionary selection pressures. In one of the stragegies, yeast populations were subjected to continuous cultivation under hexose, and especially fructose, limitation. The data show that the strains selected after this procedure were usually able to out-compete the parental strains in these selective conditions. However, the improved phenotype was not detectable when strains were evaluated in laboratory scale wine fermentations. In contrast, the selection procedure in continuous cultivation in nitrogen limiting conditions proved to be highly efficient for the generation of yeast strains with higher total fermentative capacity in low nitrogen musts. Furthermore, yeast strains selected after mutagenesis and sequential batch cultivation in synthetic musts with a very low glucose on fructose ratio showed a fructose specific improvement in fermentative capacity. This phenotype, which corresponds to the desired outcome, was also present in laboratory scale wine fermentations, where the discrepancy between glucose and fructose utilization of the selected strains was significantly reduced when compared to the parents. Finally, a novel strategy for the rectification of stuck fermentations was adjusted to industrial conditions. The strategy is based on the use of a natural isolate of the yeast species Zygosaccharomyces bailii, which is known for its preference of fructose. This process was successfully established and implemented in the wine industry.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plants have developed sophisticated means of combating plant diseases. The events that prepare the plant for, and follow plant-pathogenic interactions, are extremely complex and have been the topic of intensive investigation in recent years. These interactions involve a plethora of genes and proteins, and intricate regulation thereof; from the host and pathogen alike. Studying the contribution of single genes and their encoded proteins to the molecular dialogue between plant and pathogen has been a focus of plant molecular biologists. To this end, a gene encoding a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) was recently cloned from Vitis vinifera. These proteins have the ability to inhibit fungal endopolygalacturonases (ePGs), enzymes which have been shown to be required for the full virulence of several fungi on their respective plant hosts. The activity of PGIP in inhibiting fungal macerating enzymes is particularly attractive for the improvement of disease tolerance of crop species. The VvPGIP-encoding gene was subsequently transferred to Nicotiana tabacum for high-level expression of VvPGIP. These transgenic plants were found to be less susceptible to infection by Botrytis cinerea in an initial detached leaf assay. Also, it was shown that ePG inhibition by protein extracts from these lines correlated to the observed decrease in susceptibility to B. cinerea. This study expands on previous findings by corroborating the antifungal nature of the introduced PGIP by whole-plant, timecourse infection assays. Six transgenic tobacco lines and an untransformed wildtype (WT) were infected and the lesions measured daily from day three to seven, and again at day 15. The transgenic lines exhibited smaller lesions sizes from three to seven days post-inoculation, although these differences only became statistically significant following seven days of incubation. At this point, four of the six lines exhibited significantly smaller lesions than the WT, with reductions in disease susceptibility ranging between 46 and 69% as compared to the WT. Two of the lines exhibited disease susceptibility comparable to the WT. In these resistant plant lines, a correlation could be drawn between Vvpgip1 expression, PGIP activity and ePG inhibition. These lines were therefore considered to be PGIP-specific resistant lines, and provided ideal resources to further study the possible in planta roles of PGIP in plant defense. The current hypothesis regarding the role(s) of PGIP in plant defense is twofold. Firstly, PGIPs have the ability to specifically and effectively inhibit fungal ePGs. This direct inhibition results in reduced fungal pathogenicity. Alternatively, unhindered action of these enzymes results in maceration of plant tissue and ultimately, tissue necrosis. Subsequently, it could be shown that, in vitro, the inhibition of ePGs prolongs the existence of oligogalacturonides, molecules with the ability to activate plant defense responses. Thus, PGIPs limit tissue damage by inhibition of ePG; this inhibition results in activation of plant defense responses aimed at limiting pathogen ingress. Several publications reported reduced susceptibility to Botrytis in transgenic plant lines overexpressing PGIP-encoding genes. However, none of these publications could expand on the current hypotheses regarding the possible in planta roles of PGIP in plant defense. In this study we used transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing Vvpgip1 as resources to study the in planta roles for PGIP. Transcriptomic and hormonal analyses were performed on these lines and a WT line, both before and following inoculation with Botrytis cinerea. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on uninfected as well as infected tobacco leaf material utilizing a Solanum tuberosum microarray. From the analysis with healthy, uninfected plant material, it became clear that genes involved in cell wall metabolism were differentially expressed between the transgenic lines and the WT. Under these conditions, it could be shown and confirmed that the gene encoding tobacco xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET/XTH) was downregulated in the transgenic lines. Additionally, genes involved in the lignin biosynthetic pathway were affected in the individual transgenic lines. Biochemical evidence corroborated the indication of increased lignin deposition in their cell walls. Additionally, phytohormone profiling revealed an increased indole-acetic acid content in the transgenic lines. These results show that constitutive levels of PGIP may affect cell wall metabolism in the Vvpgip1-transgenic lines which may have a positive impact on the observed reduced susceptibilities of these plants. An additional role for PGIP in the contribution to plant defenses is therefore proposed. PGIP may directly influence defense responses in the plant leading to the strengthening of cell walls. This might occur by virtue of its structural features or its integration in the cell wall. These reinforced cell walls are thus “primed” before pathogen ingress and contribute to the decrease in disease susceptibility observed in lines accumulating high levels of PGIP. Transcriptional and hormonal analyses, at the localized response, were performed on Botrytis-infected leaf tissue of the transgenic lines and a WT line. Several Botrytis responsive genes were found to be upregulated in both the WT and the transgenic lines. Although limited differential expression was observed between the two genotypes, the analyses identified a gene which was upregulated two-fold in the transgenic lines, as compared to WT. This was confirmed by quantitative Real-Time PCR. This gene is involved in the lipoxygenase pathway, specifically the 9-LOX branch, leading to the synthesis of the divinyl ether oxylipins colneleic and colnelenic acid, which show inhibitory effects on Botrytis spore germination. Phytohormone profiling revealed that the transgenic lines accumulated more of the defense-related hormone pool of jasmonates. These are formed via the 13-LOX pathway and have been shown to be important for the restriction of Botrytis growth at the site of infection. Collectively, the results from the infection analyses indicate that in these transgenic lines, both branches of the lipoxygenase pathway are differentially induced at the level of the localized response to Botrytis infection. Similarly, an increased induction of the synthesis of the defense-related hormone salicylic acid could be observed, although this hormone did not accumulate to significantly higher levels. These results are the first report of differential induction of a defense-related pathway in pgip-overexpressing lines and substantiate the proposal that following ePG inhibition by PGIP, signaling which activates plant defense responses, takes place. Taken together, these results significantly contribute to our understanding of the in planta role of PGIP in plant defense responses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plante het deur evolusie gesofistikeerde meganismes teen die aanslag van plantsiektes ontwikkel. Die gebeure wat die plant voorberei, asook dié wat op plant-patogeen interaksies volg, is uiters kompleks en vorm die kern van verskeie navorsingstemas die afgelope paar jaar. Etlike plant- én patogeengene en proteïene is by hierdie interaksies betrokke en aan komplekse reguleringsprosesse onderworpe. Die bestudering van die bydrae van enkelgene en hul gekodeerde proteïene tot die molekulêre interaksie tussen ‘n plant en patogeen is ‘n sterk fokus van plant-molekulêre bioloë. Met hierdie doel as fokus, is ‘n geen wat vir ‘n poligalakturonaseinhiberende proteïen (PGIP) kodeer, van Vitis vinifera gekloneer. Hierdie proteïene beskik oor die vermoë om fungiese endopoligalakturonases (ePG's), ensieme wat benodig word vir die virulensie van verskeie fungi op hul gasheerplante, te inhibeer. Die inhibisie van ePG's deur PGIP en die gepaardgaande verminderde weefseldegradasie is ‘n baie belowende strategie vir die verbetering van verboude gewasse se patogeentoleransie. Die VvPGIPenkoderende geen is gevolglik na Nicotiana tabacum oorgedra vir hoëvlakuitdrukking van VvPGIP. Daar is gevind dat hierdie transgeniese plante minder vatbaar vir Botrytis cinerea-infeksies was in ‘n inisiële antifungiese toets wat gebruik gemaak het van blaarweefsel wat van die moederplant verwyder is. Daar is ook ‘n korrelasie gevind tussen B. cinerea-siekteweerstand en ePG-inhibisie deur proteïenekstrakte van die transgeniese populasie. Die huidige studie bou voort op en bevestig vorige bevindinge betreffende die antfungiese aard van die heteroloë PGIP in die heelplant en oor tyd. Ses transgeniese tabaklyne en 'n ongetransformeerde wilde-tipe (WT) is geïnfekteer en die lesies is vanaf dag drie tot sewe, en weer op dag 15, gemeet. Die transgeniese lyne het in die tydperk van drie tot sewe dae ná-inokulasie kleiner lesies as die WT getoon, alhoewel hierdie verskille slegs statisties beduidend geword het na sewe dae van inkubasie. Op daardie tydstip het vier van die ses lyne aansienlik kleiner lesies as die WT getoon, en verlagings in siektevatbaarheid het, in vergelyking met die WT, van 46% tot 69% gewissel. Twee van die lyne het siektevatbaarheid getoon wat vergelykbaar was met dié van die WT. In die siekteweerstandbiedende plantlyne was daar 'n verband tussen Vvpgip1-ekspressie, PGIP-aktiwiteit en ePG-inhibisie. Hierdie plantlyne is dus as PGIP-spesifieke siekteweerstandslyne beskou en dien dus as ideale eksperimentele bronne vir die ontleding van die moontlike in plantafunksies van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstandbiedendheid. Die huidige hipotese betreffende die funksie(s) van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstand is tweeledig. Eerstens het PGIP die vermoë om fungusePG's spesifiek en doeltreffend te inhibeer. Hierdie direkte inhibisie veroorsaak ‘n vermindering in patogenisiteit van die fungus op die gasheer. Indien ePG's egter hulle ensimatiese aksie onverstoord voortsit, sal weefseldegradasie en uiteindelik weefselnekrose die gevolg wees. Daar kon ook bewys word dat die in vitroinhibisie van ePG's deur PGIP die leeftyd van oligogalakturoniede, molekules wat die vermoë het om die plantweerstandsrespons aan te skakel, kan verleng. PGIP het dus nie net die vermoë om ePG's, en dus weefseldegradasie, te inhibeer nie; maar hierdie inhibisie lei ook daartoe dat plantweerstandsresponse aangeskakel word met die oog op die vermindering van patogeenindringing. Verskeie publikasies het reeds gerapporteer oor verminderde Botrytisvatbaarheid in PGIP transgeniese plantlyne. Geeneen van hierdie publikasies kon egter uitbrei op die huidige hipotese aangaande die moontlike in planta-funksie van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstand nie. In hierdie studie is transgeniese tabaklyne wat PGIP ooruitgedruk gebruik om hierdie moontlike in planta-funksies vir PGIP uit te klaar. Transkriptoom- en hormonale analises is op hierdie plantlyne en ‘n WT voor en ná inokulasie met die nekrotroof Botrytis cinerea uitgevoer,. Transkriptoomanalises is uitgevoer op ongeïnfekteerde, sowel as geïnfekteerde tabakblaarmateriaal deur gebruik te maak van ‘n Solanum tuberosum-mikroraster. Die analises met gesonde, ongeïnfekteerde plantmateriaal het daarop gewys dat gene betrokke by selwandmetabolisme tussen die transgeniese lyne en die WT verskillend uitgedruk was. Dit kon bewys word dat, sonder infeksiedruk, die geen wat xiloglukaan-endotransglikosilase (XET) kodeer, in die transgeniese lyne afgereguleer was. Gene wat betrokke is in die lignien-biosintetiese pad was ook in die individuele transgeniese lyne beïnvloed. Biochemiese toetse het ook die aanduiding van verhoogde ligniendeposisie in die transgeniese lyne se selwande bevestig. Addisionele fitohormoonprofiele het getoon dat hierdie lyne ook beskik oor verhoogde vlakke van indoolasynsuur (IAA). Hierdie resultate wys daarop dat konstitutiewe vlakke van PGIP selwandmetabolisme in die Vvpgip1-transgeniese lyne moontlik kan beïnvloed, wat plantsiekteweerstand in dié lyne positief kan beïnvloed. Dit wil dus voorkom asof PGIP 'n bykomende funksie in plantsiekteweerstand het. Plantweerstandsreponse kan direk deur PGIP beïnvloed word, wat tot die versterking van plantselwande kan lei; dit kan geskied by wyse van die strukturele eienskappe van die proteïen of die integrasie daarvan in die selwand. Hierdie selwande is dus “voorberei” alvorens patogeenindringing plaasvind en kon bydra tot die verminderde siektevatbaarheid wat waargeneem is in lyne wat hoë vlakke van PGIP akkumuleer. Transkriptoom- en hormonale analises is ook uitgevoer op Botrytisgeïnfekteerde blaarmateriaal van beide die transgeniese lyne en ‘n WT. Verskeie Botrytis-responsgene is in beide die transgeniese lyne en die WT opgereguleer. Differensïele geenekspressie tussen die twee genotipes was taamlik beperk, maar in die analises kon ‘n geen geïdentifiseer word wat tweevoudig in die transgeniese lyne opgereguleer was in vergelyking met die WT. Hierdie resultaat is ook bevestig met behulp van die “Real-Time” Polimerasekettingreaksie (PKR). Hierdie geen is betrokke in die lipoksigenase (LOX) -pad (spesifiek die 9-LOXarm), wat tot die sintese van die diviniel-eter oksilipiene “colneleic-” en “colnelenic”-suur lei. Daar is al bewys dat hierdie twee verbindings Botrytisspoorontkieming kan inhibeer. Fitohormoonprofiele van die geïnfekteerde plante het gewys dat die transgeniese lyne verhoogde vlakke van die poel van jasmonate wat plantsiekteweerstands-hormone is, ná inokulasie akkumuleer. Hierdie hormone word in die 13-LOX-arm van die lipoksigenase pad gevorm en is belangrik vir die beperking van Botrytis by die infeksiesetel. Die resultate van die analises wat op Botrytis-infeksie volg, dui daarop dat beide arms van die lipoksigenasepad in die transgeniese lyne verskillend by die lokale respons geïnduseer word. ‘n Verhoogde induksie van ‘n ander plantsiekteweerstandshormoon, salisielsuur, kon ook opgemerk word, alhoewel die totaal geakkumuleerde vlakke nie beduidend hoër was as dié van die WT nie. Hierdie resultate is die eerste wat onderskeidende induksie van ‘n siekteweerstandspad in enige van die pgip-ooruitgedrukte plantlyne rapporteer. Daarmee ondersteun dit ook die hipotese dat, seintransduksie wat plantweerstandsresponse aanskakel, ná inhibisie van ePG deur PGIP plaasvind. Die resultate wat met hierdie studie verkry is, dra dus beduidend by tot die huidige kennis van die in planta-funksie van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstandsresponse.

Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Biogenic amines are nitrogenous compounds of low molecular weight found in most fermented foods, including wine. These biologically produced amines are essential at low concentrations for normal metabolic and physiological functions in animals, plants and micro-organisms. However, biogenic amines can have adverse effects at high concentrations and pose a health risk for sensitive individuals. Symptoms include nausea, hot flushes, headaches, red rashes, respiratory distress and fluctuations in blood pressure. A number of countries have implemented upper limits for histamine in food and wine. This development has already started to threaten commercial export transactions and may become more serious in the near future, especially in the competitive wine industry of today. The most important biogenic amines in wine include histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine and phenylethylamine which are produced from the amino acids histidine, tyrosine, ornithine, lysine and phenylalanine respectively. Biogenic amines are mainly produced in wine by microbial decarboxylation of the corresponding precursor amino acid. It may be produced by yeast during alcoholic fermentation, by lactic acid bacteria during malolactic fermentation, or potentially by spoilage microbes such as acetic acid bacteria and Brettanomyces. However, lactic acid bacteria are widely accepted as the main causative agents. Inoculation with commercial malolactic fermentation starter cultures that do not possess the relevant decarboxylase genes may inhibit the growth and activity of decarboxylase positive indigenous bacteria and as such control the production of biogenic amines in wine. In this study it was shown that co-inoculation of malolactic starter cultures together with alcoholic fermentation could reduce the incidence of biogenic amines in wine compared to conventional inoculation protocols; presumably because undesirable activities were restrained at an earlier stage during co-inoculation. It was also indicated in this work that in some cases the effect of co-inoculation on biogenic amine reduction may only be visible after a period of ageing. The frequency of biogenic amine occurrence in wines aged for a short period was generally higher in the presence of fermentation lees than in its absence. This work also included a preliminary investigation into the contribution of commercial wine yeast starter cultures to biogenic amine production. Diamines and polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and cadaverine) were produced to variable extents by all yeasts with very little or no production of physiologically important biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine). Another objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of common winemaking practices on biogenic amine production under winemaking conditions. We have shown that biogenic amine production by lactic acid bacteria could be influenced, amongst others, by the presence of precursor amino acids in the grape must or wine, the time of contact between juice or wine and grape skins, the time of contact between wine and yeast lees, the presence of microbial nutrients, wine pH, sulphite and ethanol levels, the phenolic composition of the wine and the number of decarboxylase positive lactic acid bacteria present in the wine. Lately, the wine industry is under increasing pressure to increase measures to ensure food safety and security and to eliminate any compound, present even in trace amounts that could reduce the wholesomeness of the wine. The need arises for a rapid and inexpensive method for quality control. In this study we investigated the potential to use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to rapidly screen for the presence of elevated levels of biogenic amines. This presents a novel method for the detection and quantification of total biogenic amines in wines.

Thesis (MSc (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / Pathogen devastation of food products has been the topic of extensive research efforts worldwide. Fungal infections are foremost amongst these pests, contributing not only to losses in product yield, but also significantly affecting the quality thereof. It is not surprising then that producers of these foodstuffs and their derived products continually strive towards the highest possible product quality. Therefore, it remains imperative that satisfactory methods are implemented to control these fungal pathogens. The current strategies are all hampered by drawbacks, and severe crop losses are still experienced. New technologies are being explored; one such technology is the genetic transformation of plant species. This method has enabled scientists to introduce foreign genes, with known functions and predictable outcomes, into plants. Genes identified to be involved in disease resistance have become the focus of numerous research efforts concerned with the improvement of the plant's innate defence response. This study aimed to enhance disease resistance to fungal pathogens by means of the genetic transformation of two genes previously shown to be involved in disease resistance. These genes encode polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) from Phaseolus vulgaris and resveratrol synthase from Vitis vinifera. PGIPs specifically inhibit the action of fungal polygalacturonases (PGs), which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolytic breakdown of plant cell walls. These enzymes were also found to be the first enzymes that are secreted by fungal pathogens during infection of the host plant. Additionally, PGIP-PG interaction results in the existence of molecules involved in the activation of plant defence responses. Resveratrol, the product of resveratrol synthase, exerts its antifungal action by destruction of the microbial cellular membranes. These mentioned genes were transformed alone, and in combination, into Nicotiana tabacum and the resultant transgenic lines were evaluated for enhanced disease resistance and for possible synergistic effects between the transgenes. Several independent transgenic lines were regenerated with genes integrated into the tobacco genome. Almost all the plants harbouring only pgip or vst1 genes also expressed these genes at a high frequency. Some non-expressing lines were identified from the transgenic plants that had integrated both genes, but several lines were obtained expressing both transgenes. Good correlations were observed between transgene product activity and enhanced resistance to the fungus Botrytis cinerea in an antifungal in planta assay. Lines showing the highest PGIP activity and resveratrollevels were more resistant to the pathogen, leading to disease resistance of up to 80% seven days after inoculation in comparison to an untransformed control. These lines maintained their strong inhibition, even three weeks post-inoculation, showing a complete halt in disease development and fungal growth. These results provide good indications of the efficacy of these transgenes in the upregulation of plant defence. However, the study will have to be expanded to include even more transgenic lines to elucidate the possible synergistic effects of these genes. In an additional pilot study, genes encoding for precursors and for the formation of resveratrol were introduced into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The resultant recombinant yeast strains were evaluated for their ability to produce the phenolic substance, resveratrol. This compound has been implicated in beneficial aspects relating to human health, including positive effects on atherosclerosis and platelet aggregation as a direct result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Recombinant yeast strains were constructed that expressed genes coding for coenzyme A ligase and resveratrol synthase. These strains were shown to be able to produce the phenolic compound resveratrol from the precursors present in the yeast as well as from the products introduced with the transformation. The resveratrol was complexed with an added glucose moiety. These results are extremely positive, considering the possibility of manipulating wine yeasts to produce resveratrol during the wine fermentation, thereby adding to the health aspects of both red and white wine. This is the first report of the production of this compound by the introduction of genes necessary for its biosynthesis in a foreign host. This study has confirmed the importance of PGIPs and resveratrol in the effort to enhance disease resistance in plants through genetic transformation technology. It has also shown that the health benefits of resveratrol could be exploited more optimally in the wine industry, by producing wine yeasts with the ability to synthesise this important antioxidant.

Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Necrotrophic fungi infect many economically important crop plants. This results in great losses in the agricultural sector world-wide. Understanding the nature by which plants respond to pathogens is imperative for genetically enhancing disease resistance in plants. Research tools have significantly contributed to our understanding of how the plant responds to pathogen attack, identifying an array of defence mechanisms used by plants upon attack. Many fungal pathogens secrete endopolygalacturonases (endoPGs) when infecting plants. These hydrolytic enzymes are inhibited by polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) associated with plant cell walls. PGIPs are well characterised and their current known functions are all linked to endoPG inhibition and the subsequent upregulation of plant defence pathways. Work on grapevine PGIPs have shown that apart from being efficient antifungal proteins, leading to protection of the plant against Botrytis cinerea when overexpressed, PGIPs might also have additional functions linked to cell wall strengthening. This working hypothesis formed the motivation of this study where a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) (1.1.1.195) gene was targeted for functional analysis in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Some previous work and genetic resources obtained is relevant to this study, specifically previously characterized transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing the Vitis vinifera pgip1 (Vvpgip1) gene. These lines have confirmed PGIP-specific resistance phenotypes against B. cinerea, as well as increased levels of CAD transcripts in healthy plants. Moreover, preliminary evaluations indicated increased lignin levels as well as differential expression of several other cell wall genes in these overexpressing lines (in the absence of infections). In this study we generated a transgenic tobacco population, overexpressing the native CAD14 gene, via Agrobacterium transformations. The transgene was overexpressed with the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter (CaMV 35Sp). The CAD transgenic population was analyzed for transgene integration and expression and showed active transcription, even from leaves that normally don’t express CAD to high levels. These lines, together with the untransformed control, and a representative transgenic VvPGIP1 tobacco line previously characterized with elevated expression of CAD were used for all further analyses, specifically CAD activity assays of stems and leaves, as well as whole plant infections with B. cinerea. CAD enzyme activity assays were performed on healthy uninfected plant lines, without inducing native CAD expression or resistance phenotypes (i.e. without Botrytis infection). CAD activity was detected in leaves and stems, but a statistically sound separation between the CAD population and the untransformed control was only observed in the stems. The CAD assays also confirmed previous results that indicated that CAD transcription was upregulated in the PGIP line in the absence of infection. Overall, in all plant lines the stems exhibited 10-fold higher levels of CAD activity than the leaves, but the transgenic VvPGIP1 line showed a further 2-3-fold increase in CAD activity in the stems, when compared to the untransformed control and the majority of the CAD overexpressing lines. Disease assessment by whole plant infections with B. cinerea of the CAD transgenic plants revealed reduced disease susceptibility towards this pathogen. A reduction in disease susceptibility of 20 – 40% (based on lesion sizes) was observed for a homologous group of transgenic lines that was statistically clearly separated from the untransformed control plants following infection with Botrytis over an 11-day-period. The VvPGIP1 transgenic line displayed the strongest resistance phenotype, with reduction in susceptibility of 47%. The reduction in plant tissue maceration and lesion expansion was most pronounced in the VvPGIP1 line compared to the CAD transgenic plants, while the CAD transgenic plants showed more reduction than the untransformed control. In combination, the data confirms that CAD upregulation could lead to resistance phenotypes. Relating this data back to the previously observed upregulation of CAD in the VvPGIP1-overexpressing lines, the findings from this study corroborates that increased CAD activity contributes to the observed resistance phenotypes, possibility by strengthening the cell wall. In conclusion, this study yielded a characterized transgenic population overexpressing the CAD14 gene; this overexpression contributed to increased RNA transcription compared to the untransformed control plant, increased CAD activity (most notably in the stems) and a disease resistance phenotype against Botrytis. These findings corroborates the current working hypothesis in our group that PGIPs might have a role in preparing the plant cell for attack by contributing to specific cell wall changes. The exact mechanisms are still currently unknown and under investigation. The transgenic lines generated in this study will be invaluable in the subsequent analyses where these various phenotypes will be subjected to profiling and accurate cell wall analyses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nekrotrofiese swamme infekteer en beskadig verskeie ekonomies belangrike gewasse. Dit lei wêreldwyd tot groot verliese vir die landbousektor. Dit is noodsaaklik om te verstaan hoe plante reageer teenoor patogene, sodat die siekteweerstand van plante verbeter kan word. Navorsingshulpbronne het beduidend bygedra tot die kennis van plantreaksies tydens patogeniese aanvalle, en het sodoende ‘n reeks van weerstandmeganismes, wat die plant inspan tydens ‘n aanval, geïdentifiseer. Verskeie patogeniese swamme skei endopoligalakturonases (endoPGs) af tydens plantinfeksie. Hierdie hidrolitiese ensieme word geïnhibeer deur poligalakturonase-inhiberende proteïene (PGIPs) wat met die plantselwand geassosieerd is. PGIPs is goed gekarakteriseerd en al hulle huidiglik bekende funksies is gekoppel aan endoPG inhibisie en die daaropvolgende opregulering van plant weerstandspaaie. Navorsing op wingerd PGIPs het gewys dat, afgesien van die feit dat PGIPs goeie antifungiese proteïene is wat lei tot beskerming van die plant teen Botrytis cinerea wanneer dit ooruitgedruk word, PGIPs ook moontlik addisionele funksies verrig wat verwant is aan selwandversterking. Hierdie werkshipotese vorm die motivering vir hierdie studie waarin ‘n sinnamiel alkohol dehidrogenase (SAD) (1.1.1.195) geen geteiken is vir funksionele analise in tabak (Nicotiana tabacum). Vorige navorsing en genetiese hulpbronne daardeur verkry is belangrik vir hierdie studie, spesifiek die gekarakteriseerde transgeniese tabaklyne wat die Vitis vinifera pgip1 (Vvpgip1) geen ooruitdruk. Hierdie lyne besit bevestigde PGIP-spesifieke weerstandsfenotipes teen B. cinerea, sowel as hoër vlakke van SAD transkripte in gesonde plante. Voorlopige analises het ook aangedui dat hierdie ooruitdrukkende lyne hoër lignien vlakke het, asook differensiële uitdrukking van verskeie ander selwandgene (in die afwesigheid van infeksie). In hierdie studie is ‘n transgeniese tabakpopulasie gegenereer wat die natuurlike tabak SAD14 geen ooruitdruk, deur middel van Agrobacterium transformasie. Die transgeen is ooruitgedruk deur die Blomkool Mosaïek Virus promoter (CaMV 35Sp). Die SAD transgeniese populasie is geanaliseer vir transgeen integrasie en uitdrukking en het aktiewe transkriptering getoon, selfs in blare waar daar normaalweg nie hoë vlakke van SAD uitgedruk word nie. Hierdie lyne, die ongetransformeerde wilde-tipe kontrole sowel as ’n verteenwoordigende transgeniese VvPGIP1 tabaklyn wat vooraf gekarakteriseerd was met hoë SAD uitdrukking, is gebruik vir alle verdere analises, spesifiek SAD aktiwiteitstoetse in stingels en blare, asook heelplantinfeksies met B. cinerea. Aktiwiteitsanalises van die SAD ensiem is gedoen op gesonde ongeinfekteerde plantlyne, sonder om natuurlike tabak SAD uitdrukking of weerstandsfenotipes te induseer (dus sonder Botrytis infeksie). SAD aktiwiteit is waargeneem in beide die blare en stingels, maar ‘n statisties betekenisvolle skeiding is slegs gevind tussen die SAD populasie en die ongetransformeerde kontrole in die stingels. Die SAD toetse het ook vorige resultate bevestig wat aangedui het dat SAD transkripsie opgereguleer word in die PGIP lyn in die afwesigheid van infeksie. Die stingels het oor die algemeen ‘n 10-voudige vermeerdering in SAD aktiwiteitsvlakke getoon in vergelyking met die blare, maar die transgeniese VvPGIP1 lyn het ‘n verdere 2-3-voudige verhoging in SAD aktiwiteit gehad in die stingels ,in vergelyking met die ongetransformeerde kontrole en die meerderheid van die SADooruitdrukkende lyne. Siekteweerstand ondersoeke deur middel van heelplantinfeksies met B. cinerea van die SAD transgeniese plante, het verminderde vatbaarheid aangedui ten opsigte van hierdie patogeen. ‘n Afname in siekte-vatbaarheid van 20 – 40% (gebaseer op wondgroottes) is waargeneem vir ‘n homoloë groep transgeniese lyne wat statisties betekenisvol geskei kon word van die ongetransformeerde kontrole plante na infeksie met Botrytis in ‘n infeksietoets wat 11 dae geduur het. Die VvPGIP1 transgeniese lyn het die mees weerstandbiedende fenotipe gehad, met ‘n afname in siekte-vatbaarheid van 47%. Die afname in plantweefselafbreking en wondgrootte was die duidelikste in die VvPGIP1 lyn in vergelyking met die SAD transgeniese plante, terwyl die SAD transgeniese plante ‘n groter afname aangedui het as die ongetransformeerde kontrole. In kombinasie het die data bevestig dat SAD opregulasie kan lei tot weerstandbiedende fenotipes. Hierdie data, in vergelyking met die vorige bevinding van opregulasie van SAD in die VvPGIP1-ooruitdrukkende lyne, bevestig dat hoër SAD aktiwiteit bydra tot die waargenome weerstandbiedende fenotipes, moontlik deur versterking van die plantselwand. Ter afsluiting, hierdie studie het ‘n gekarakteriseerde transgeniese populasie wat die SAD14 geen ooruitdruk gelewer; hierdie ooruitdrukking het bygedra tot hoër RNA transkripsie in vergelyking met die kontrole, verhoogde SAD aktiwiteit (veral in die stingels) en siekteweerstandbiedende fenotipes teenoor Botrytis. Hierdie bevindinge ondersteun die huidige werkshipotese in ons groep dat PGIPs moontlik ‘n rol speel in die voorbereiding van die plantsel teen infeksie deur spesifieke selwandveranderinge te veroorsaak. Die spesifieke meganismes is steeds onbekend en word verder ondersoek. Die transgeniese lyne wat tydens hierdie studie gegenereer is, sal baie belangrik wees in opvolgende analises waar hierdie verskillende fenotipes gebruik kan word om die profiel van selwandkomponente, maar ook die akkurate selwandsamestelling te bestudeer.