Résumé
Grape ripening is thought to be ethylene independent. However, Cabernet Sauvignon berries that were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a specific inhibitor of ethylene receptors, accumulated less sucrose over the following three weeks than did controls. This was associated with a decreased RNA accumulation of two sucrose transporters (SUC11 and SUC12), whose expression is triggered at the veraison stage when grape berries start to accumulate sugars. These observations were performed over two consecutive years. This preliminary study suggests that the role of ethylene in grape ripening needs to be reconsidered and that it could be related to sugar accumulation.