Effects of sunlight exclusion on the profiles of monoterpene biosynthesis and accumulation in grape exocarp and mesocarp

•Monoterpenes responded to sunlight exclusion in different forms.•Linalool biosynthesis and accumulation were strongly related to sunlight exposure.•TPSs and GTs were crucial for monoterpene accumulation and sensitivity to sunlight.

Terpenes are important aroma compounds in table Muscat grape and wine, and their content in the berry can be affected by sunlight. The effects of sunlight exclusion on monoterpene profiles and relevant gene expression profiles in the exocarp and mesocarp of table Muscat grape 'Jingxiangyu' at different development stages were thoroughly surveyed by bagging pre-veraison clusters in special opaque boxes. The responses of monoterpenes to sunlight treatments varied in three types, representatively linalool, ocimene and geraniol. Linalool was the most sensitive compound to sunlight, whose biosynthesis was severely inhibited by sunlight exclusion and then was elevated by re-exposure. Ocimene and glycosylated geraniol showed a certain suppressive and stimulative responses to sunlight exclusion respectively. Further transcription analysis revealed that VvPNLinNer1, VvCSbOci, VvGT7 and VvGT14 genes were mainly responsible for monoterpene accumulation and sensitivity to sunlight. VvDXS2 and VvDXR genes were partially related to the differential accumulation of total terpenes under different sunlight treatments.