Muscadine grapes face substantial challenges including poor berry chemistry which affects edible characteristics and finished wine characteristics

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Southern University Agricultural & Mechanical College $499,997 on December 15, 2025, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to conduct research on improving muscadine grape berry chemistry and shelf life through application of melatonin and L-tryptophan.

The project, performed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, through December 14, 2028, will determine genetic variation in melatonin content among muscadine grapes grown in Louisiana and Florida, examine the effects of exogenous melatonin and L-tryptophan application on melatonin biosynthesis in muscadine grapes, and develop leadership and technical skills in agricultural and molecular biology research among students. The research team will expose grape berries to melatonin and L-tryptophan, monitoring their impact on oenologically-related berry constituents to improve shelf life and market value. The work is designed to strengthen Southern University and Florida A&M University research capacity in crop production and improvement, support educational and professional development of faculty and students in agricultural sciences, and generate knowledge applicable to other small fruits and niche crops.

Further the table muscadine grapes varieties are prone to latent infections from the field resulting in shorter shelf life during storage. Therefore, innovative strategies for improving the berry and wine characteristics of grapes are needed to increase their economic value. Previous studies have shown that melatonin and l-TRP can improve berry composition and help enhance fruit quality. Hence the exogeneous application of melatonin and its precursor l-tryptophan offers a promising solution to this issue. In this regard our research approach includes determining the extent of genetic variation in melatonin content among muscadine grapes grown in louisiana and florida the effect of exogenous melatonin and l[1]tryptophane application on the biosynthesis of melatonin in muscadine grapes and concurrently develop leadership and technical skills of students in agriculture/molecular biology research. We propose to expose grape berries to melatonin and l-tryptophan and monitor their impact on various oenologically-related berry constituents' content to improve berry shelf life and achieve our aim. The outcome will help improve the market value of muscadine grapes and strengthen southern university and famu research capacity in crop production and improvement as well as support the educational and professional development of faculty and students in agricultural sciences. In addition, the knowledge gained will help improve other small fruits and niche crops and increase utilization and market value. Besides, the scope of this project aligns directly with the CBG priority areas.