TECH4WINE: integrated technology platform supporting the quality and safety of typical wines of Piedmont

Today, consumers require more and more an understanding of how food is produced, which is its origin and whether it is safe. Viticulture and wine production of Piedmont represent one of the most relevant agro-food sectors, and viral infections are largely spread in north-western Italian vineyards. A research project named TECH4WINE, involving three Agro-food CNR Institutes and four private companies, is currently funded by Regione Piemonte to support the production of Piedmont typical wines through an integrated technology platform. Relationships between virus infection and grape and wine quality, between different environments and vine growth, yield and wine quality, between soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the vine performances, and between sanitary status, cultivation environments and the grape and wine protein fingerprintings, are under investigation. The phytosanitary status of registered Nebbiolo clones 308, 415 and 63 grown in different environments of cultivation (Lessona, La Morra and Neive) was assessed by ELISA and virus concentration quantified by RT-Real time PCR. Clones resulted to be infected by Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), and a mixed infection of Grapevine leafroll virus 1 (GLRaV1) or Grapevine leafroll virus 3 (GLRaV3) with Grapevine virus A (GVA) respectively. Healthy or infected progeny of these clones was compared in terms of vegetative behaviour yield, and grape and wine quality. Preliminary results indicate that virus-infected and healthy progenies of the same clone performed differently in terms of vegetative behaviour, yield and juice quality. The healthy clone also varied in term of the productive and qualitative response, depending on the different environments. Soil samples and roots from experimental Lessona vineyard were analyzed using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal-specific primers. Phylogenetic analyses identified Glomus groups Aa, Ab, Ad and B, Diversisporaceae and Gigasporaceae families. In particular, Glomus group Ad was the best represented in both compartments, suggesting a correlation between intra and extra radical communities. Protocols for protein extraction and 2D electrophoresis suitable for berry samples have been set up: berries have been dissected into skin and pulp, and a phenol based extraction method has been chosen for polyphenol-rich skin tissue, while and a TCA/acetone method for sugar-rich pulp.