# Spatial Variability of Grape Berry Maturation Program at the Molecular Level
## 4 Conclusions  
In this study we investigated the intra-vineyard variability of a commercial Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard combining standard precision-viticulture detection with molecular approaches. This allowed us to highlight correlations among grapevine agronomic, vegetative, reproductive, and fruit quality parameters, as well as to reveal the distinct berry molecular maturation programs associated with the different vigor classes into which the vineyard was divided. Moreover, we demonstrated the feasibility of creating spatial variability maps of the expression level of key berry ripening genes, which showed consistent patterns aligned with the vineyard vigor map. This approach evidenced that berries from different vigor zones present distinct molecular maturation programs, hence showing potential in predicting spatial variability in fruit quality. Considering the drastic reduction in costs of genome-wide expression analyses that have occurred in recent years, coupling transcriptomics with traditional precision viticulture approaches could become cost-effective and feasible in different geographical areas and ecosystems (e.g., in Europe) to obtain useful information that could assist in fine-tuning vineyard management. Figure 6: Main expression trends of differentially expressed genes between the six blocks showing the highest (HVS) and lowest (LVS) vigor status. Line graphs represent the average expression trends of 311 (Cluster 1), 406 (Cluster 2), 101 (Cluster 3), and 151 (Cluster 4) differentially expressed genes (\(t\)-test; \(p<0.05\); \(|\)FC\(|\geq 1.5\)) by HVS and LVS plotted by days after veraison. **Supplementary Materials:** The following supporting information can be downloaded at [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/horticulture10030238/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/horticulture10030238/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/horticulture10030238/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/horticulture10030238/s1)). Figure S1: Maturation trends of berries collected from the 14 vineyard blocks; Figure S2: Transcriptome of berries collected from high, medium, and low vigor blocks. Figure S3: Gene ontology (GO) enrichment of differentially expressed genes (_t_-test; \(p\) < 0.05; \(|\)FC \(|\)\(\geq\) 1.5) between low and high vine vigor status (Supplementary Dataset S2). Figure S4: Gene ontology (GO) enrichment of differentially expressed genes (_t_-test; \(p\) < 0.05; \(|\)FC \(|\)\(\geq\) 1.5) belonging to Cluster 2 (Supplementary Dataset S3). Supplementary Dataset S1: Berry sugar level and weight data. Supplementary Dataset S2: Transcriptomic dataset. Sheet \"Sample label legend\" reports the sample legend labels. Sheet \"Normalized Dataset\" reports transcriptomic data of grape samples collected from post-fruit set to maturity across the vineyard blocks. For each transcript, the Agilent Probe Name, the 12 XV1 and VCOST.V3 IDs, the Gene Symbol [26], and the Gene Functional Annotation and Fluorescence values are reported. Sheet \"DEGs\" reports DEGs among opposite vigor status at time point 6. For each transcript, the VCOST.V3 ID, the Gene Symbol [26], and the Gene Functional Annotation and Fluorescence values are reported. Supplementary Dataset S3: Detail of the cluster analysis of the 968 differential expressed genes (_t_-test; \(p\) < 0.05; \(|\)FC \(|\)\(\geq\) 1.5) during the ripening process. For each gene, the Probe Name, the VCOST.V3 ID, the Gene Symbol [26], and the Gene Functional Annotation are reported. **Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, M.F., G.B.T., N.D. and L.S. ; methodology and analysis, M.F., R.S., P.P., A.A., E.G. and M.M.A. ; software and statistical analysis, R.S. and A.A.; writing--original draft preparation, R.S. and A.A.; writing--review and editing, G.B.T., M.F., R.S. and A.A.; supervision, M.F. and G.B.T. ; funding acquisition, N.D. and L.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. **Funding:** This research was funded by E. & J. Gallo Winery.