Abstract

Consumers around the world prefer high quality table grapes. To achieve higher quality traits at ripening, grapevine producers apply different plant growth regulators. The synthetic cytokinin forchlorfenuron N- (2-chloro-4-pyridinyl)-N '-phenylurea (CPPU) is widely used, its effect on grape quality is poorly understood. We hypothesized that the use of CPPU in pre-flowering can lead to changes in the metabolism that affects grape quality at harvest. Therefore, we investigated the role of CPPU applications on the quality of grapes by inte-grating proteomics and metabolomics. CPPU-treated grapevines showed a significant increase in berry size and firmness. Proteomic analyses indicated that CPPU-treated berries accumulated enzymes associated with carbo-hydrate metabolism, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle at harvest. Metabolomic analyses showed shifts in the abundance of compounds associated with carbohydrate metabolism and TCA cycle in CPPU-treated grapes. These findings suggest that CPPU applications modulate central carbon metabolism, improving grape berry quality.