Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biogénèse membranaire, UMR 5544, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France
Jean-Pierre Carde
INRA, Unité de recherche sur les Espèces Fruitières et la Vigne, CR de Bordeaux, BP 81, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, France
Jean-Pierre Gaudillère
INRA, ISVV, UMR 1287, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
François Barrieu
Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire du développement des plantes, Université de Bordeaux I, UMR 619, IBVM, INRA, BP 81, 33883 Villenave d’Ornon cedex, France
Paraskevi Diakou-Verdin
UMR Ecophysiologie et Génomique Fonctionnelle de la Vigne, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRA, Université de Bordeaux, Villenave d’Ornon, France
Annick Moing
Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin de Bordeaux, UMR Physiologie et Biotechnologie Végétales, INRA - Universités Bordeaux 1 et 2, B.P. 81, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon cedex, France
Grape berry development is reviewed with special focus on berry growth, structure, substances imported, organic acid and sugar metabolism. Berry growth is divided into two growth periods. Berry structure and ultra structure are adapted to sink function. Exocarp cells are characterized by intensive metabolic capacities, flesh cells by a storage role. Early growth is highly sensitive to internal and external parameters. Berry size is largely defined during the first growth period. After "véraison", the berry becomes a major storage sink. Many changes occur in berry metabolism and gene expression. Genomic researches are promising to elucidate the mechanisms of berry development.
