Alterations in grapevine leaf metabolism upon inoculation with Plasmopara viticola in different time-points

Grapevines are easily infected by plant pathogens. It was found that resistant grapevines induce a wide range of phenolics upon the pathogen-infection. In this study in order to gain insight into these processes in different time-points the metabolic changes during the interaction of two grapevine cultivars, 'Regent' (resistant) and 'Trincadeira' (susceptible), with the downy mildew pathogen (Plasmopara viticola) were investigated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on leaf extracts was used at several time points after experimental inoculation. A wide range of metabolites were identified using various two-dimensional (2D)-NMR techniques. Multivariate data analysis characterized both the resistant and the susceptible cultivars and their response against the pathogen. Metabolites responsible for their discrimination were identified as a fertaric acid, caftaric acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, linolenic acid, and alanine in the resistant cultivar 'Regent', while the susceptible 'Trincadeira' showed higher levels of glutamate, succinate, ascorbate and glucose. This study portrays the analytical capability of NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analyses methods for the metabolic profiling of plant samples. The results obtained will underline the role of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids in resistance against biotic stresses which in turn provides a firm platform for the metabolic engineering of grapevine cultivars with higher resistance towards pathogens.