Grape flavour management requires knowledge of the derivation of individual aroma characteristics, the main constituents of which are terpenoids. Information about the expression patterns of the genes that are responsible for terpenoid biosynthesis is important. The genes identified in this study on terpene synthase gene transcript profiling in different tissues of two aromatic grapevine varieties will be of interest to viticulturists to improve decision making along the chain of production.

The role of ethylene in controlling the development of nonclimacteric fruit is unclear. Application experiments using an ethylene-releasing compound and an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, as well as changes in expression of ethylene biosynthesis and perception genes, provide evidence for the complex involvement of ethylene in grape berry ripening. The ripening-altering properties of ethylene could benefit the wine industries in the face of environmental changes due to climate change.

Early vigour and drought tolerance are crucial to increase and stabilise rice yield. We explored the genetic diversity of japonica rice under drought for traits related to early vigour, hydraulic processes and water use. Our results suggested a negative linkage between early vigour and its maintenance under drought. The limits and opportunities for improving drought tolerance in rice without affecting early vigour are discussed.

The usefulness of non-carbon stable isotope abundances in dry matter as phenotypic tools for selecting plants better adapted to stress remains inconclusive. This study shows for wheat under Mediterranean conditions that carbon followed by nitrogen isotope abundances exhibited useful characteristics, whereas oxygen isotope abundance performed poorly by comparison. The advantages and limitations of the combined use of these isotopes are discussed.

The understanding of drought tolerance mechanisms is a major challenge for plant biologists. A proteomics approach was adapted to uncover molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in sunflower roots. We found significant changes in abundance of proteins involved in energy usage, water transport and activation of defence systems. The results indicate that these processes are important for maintaining root growth as the soil dries and that modulation of these proteins could improve sunflower yield and oil productivity under drought.

In boron-toxic soils, boron accumulates in the leaves of wheat and barley, causing leaf necrosis. Although progress has been made towards identifying the mechanisms and genes responsible for limiting boron’s entry into plants, it is unclear why some tolerant plants develop fewer toxicity symptoms. We show that the symptoms of germanium toxicity mimic those of boron toxicity. Germanium may be used to dissect the genetic control of symptom development.

Vegetable grafting is currently adopted for improving plant responses to environmental stresses, such as salinity. Melon scions are generally grafted on interspecific rootstocks. In this study, the different components of salinity stress (osmotic stress, ion toxicity and nutritional imbalance) are addressed in nongrafted, self-grafted and interspecific graftings. Grafting per se improved plant water status, whereas the interspecific rootstock is responsible for reduced ion toxicity and nutritional imbalance.

When a gymnosperm grows on an incline, special tissue referred to as ‘compression wood’ forms on the lower side of the stem to restore the stem’s vertical orientation. We observed the posture recovery and stem anatomy of saplings grown on an incline and examined the expression of laccase, which plays a significant role in the formation of compression wood. Based on the results, mechanisms of posture control in gymnosperm trees are suggested.