PROTON NMR SIGNALS ASSOCIATED WITH ECODORMANCY AND ENDODORMANCY IN WINEGRAPE BUDS

Characteristic changes in proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR H-1-NMR) signals occur when winegrape buds, responding to their environment, proceed through endo- (approximately rest) and ecodormancy (approximately quiescence). These NMR signals were processed using a recently developed method Gardea et al., 1992, Spectroscopy, 8 (1): 27-35), that synchronizes second derivative minima allowing fine resolution of signal complexes, and uses careful orientation of the bud in the magnetic field to maximize signal resolution arising from McCain anisotropy (McCain et al., 1984. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 748-752). Changes in H-1-NMR signals associated with changes in dormancy, spectroscopy measurement temperatures (from 25 to -30-degrees-C) and centrifugal removal of water are described. An H-1-NMR signal, tentatively associated with the presence of intact large vacuoles, is discussed.