The Matthews laboratory at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology is interested in understanding how plants interact with the physio-chemical environment, particularly with respect to plant water relations.  Our long-term objective is to contribute to the improved use of limited resources in crop production by identifying and modifying the physiological mechanisms by which plants respond to limited resource availability.  On the fundamental side, investigations center on water transport, cell expansion, and reproductive development.  On the applied side, field research is directed towards improving the ability to identify and regulate water and nutrient status, cataloging the consequences of resource limitations for growth and development of grapevines, and experimentally testing received knowledge of wine grape production.

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Thorne, E., B.M. Young, G.M. Young, J.F. Stevenson, J.M. Labavitch, M.A. Matthews, and T.L. Rost. The Structure of xylem vessels in grapevine and a possible passive mechanism for the systemic spread of bacterial disease. Am. J. Bot. 2006 93(4):497-504.
Sun, Q., Rost, T.L., and M.A. Matthews. Pruning-induced tylose development in stems of current-year shoots of Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) Am. J. Bot. 2006 93(11): 1567-1576.
Berry shrivel and bunch stem necrosis are two disorders that afflict vines in the Napa/Sonoma viticultural areas, and symptomatic fruit is usually dropped in the vineyard prior to harvest.  Both disorders involve the visible shriveling of the berries during ripening. Click here for more info...
Click here to download and explore a PDF of Hiroshi Wada's ASEV poster presentation entitled:

Fruit Ripening in Vitis vinifera: Apoplastic Solute Accumulation Accounts for Pre-veraison Turgor Loss in Berries.

Veraison has been characterized by berry softening, sugar accumulation and a renewal of cell enlargement and berry growth. Veraison also involves loss of mesocarp cell turgor pressure. We hypothesized that this loss was associated with an accumulation of apoplastic solutes in mesocarp tissue prior to veraison. Read More!

Click here to download Greg Gambetta's recent presentation at the GWSS Workgroup meeting as part of the Pest Management Coordinating Conference (PMCC) in Sacramento.
Cover Articles:

Recent Matthews laboratory publications on the subject of Pierce's Disease provide the cover images for the American Journal of Botany!

New Research Page!!!!

Click HERE or on "Research" at the bottom of the page to check out our new research page with A LOT more content describing our investigations of berry ripening, Pierce's Disease pathogenisis, and more!

The time lapse movie of cabernet sauvignon grape berry ripening takes place from fruit set until 11 weeks past veraison, a time frame spanning 150 days . The plants were grown under a 16hr photoperiod and what you see are the photographs taken during light hours at one hour intervals. Reduced to less than a minute of video the time lapse movie moves through several days’ development every second. As you watch the video take note of the following:

Finally, explore specific parts of the video by using the time cursor in the player to move the movie forward and backward.  A large full resolution video is available by contacting Gregory Gambetta at gagambetta@ucdavis.edu.

© Produced and Created by Gregory Gambetta and Jon Schadt, University of California at Davis, Department of Viticulture and Enology

Please be patient as the movie takes time to load (about 1-2 min.)