A 2-year study explored metabolic and phenotypic plasticity of sun-acclimated Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot noir leaves collected from 12 locations across a 36.69-49.98°N latitudinal gradient. Leaf morphological and biochemical parameters were analysed in the context of meteorological parameters and the latitudinal gradient. We found that leaf fresh weight and area were negatively correlated with both global and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, cumulated global radiation being a stronger correlator. Cumulative UV radiation (sumUVR) was the strongest correlator with most leaf metabolites and pigments. Leaf UV-absorbing pigments, total antioxidant capacities, and phenolic compounds increased with increasing sumUVR, whereas total carotenoids and xanthophylls decreased. Despite of this reallocation of metabolic resources from carotenoids to phenolics, an increase in xanthophyll-cycle pigments (the sum of the amounts of three xanthophylls: violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and zeaxanthin) with increasing sumUVR indicates active, dynamic protection for the photosynthetic apparatus. In addition, increased amounts of flavonoids (quercetin glycosides) and constitutive β-carotene and α-tocopherol pools provide antioxidant protection against reactive oxygen species. However, rather than a continuum of plant acclimation responses, principal component analysis indicates clusters of metabolic states across the explored 1,500-km-long latitudinal gradient. This study emphasizes the physiological component of plant responses to latitudinal gradients and reveals the physiological plasticity that may act to complement genetic adaptations.

Agricultural and Forestry Institute of Nova Gorica Pri hrastu 18 5270 Nova Gorica Slovenia

CNR IBIMET Via Caproni 8 50144 Florence Italy

Department of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Pisa via del Borghetto 80 56124 Pisa Italy

Department of Crop Sciences BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Konrad Lorenz Str 24 3430 Tulln Austria

Department of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Sciences University of Girona Av Montilivi s n 17071 Girona Spain

Department of Plant Biology University of Pécs Ifjúság u 6 7624 Pécs Hungary

Department of Viticulture and Enology University of California Davis Oakville Experiment Station 1380 Oakville Grade Road Oakville CA 94562 USA

Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología Universidad de La Rioja Madre de Dios 53 Logroño La Rioja 26006 Spain

Global Change Research Institute CAS v v i Bělidla 4a 60300 Brno Czech Republic

Institute for General and Organic Viticulture Geisenheim University Von Lade Straße 1 65366 Geisenheim Germany

Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Großbeeren Erfurt e 5 Theodor Echtermeyer Weg 1 14979 Großbeeren Germany

Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology University of Pécs Pázmány Péter u 4 7624 Pécs Hungary

School of Biological Environmental and Earth Sciences University College Cork College Road T23 TK30 Cork Ireland

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UV Radiation Induces Specific Changes in the Carotenoid Profile of Arabidopsis thaliana