Researchers from the ICVV have carried out the first transcriptomic analysis focused on the discovery of the genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for the differences in cluster compactness. A large part of the genes differentially expressed in flowers at the beginning of fruit set are related to cell division (carbohydrate absorption, cell wall metabolism, cell cycle, nucleic acid metabolism, cell division, DNA repair), and are favorably expressed in clones with compact clusters. These results highlight the relationship between the number of berries and the size of the berry at maturity (greater in compact clones) and the rate of cell replication in flowers during the early stages after pollination. In addition, fluctuations in auxin and gibberellin signaling and gene expression related to metabolite transport support the fact that these hormones play a central role in the fruit setting process and affect the number and size of berries. Other hormones, such as ethylene and jasmonate, can regulate indirect effects such as activation of defense mechanisms or the production of polyphenols.
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