February 20, 2023

 

When scientists get together to talk shop, the conversation inevitably coalesces around the “what” and the “how” of scholarly research:

  • What are you working on? 
  • What are your goals? 
  • How are you deciding which tools to use? 
  • How far along are your results? 

These are all good and worthwhile questions to ask, but the most important question in any scientific research is “why?” Why does this project matter? Why are we conducting this research?

For VitisGen3, the answer to these questions span industries, states, institutions, and decades. The original VitisGen project began in 2012. Its aim was to bring the technological tools available for grape breeding up to speed with those of other crops. Even though vineyard professionals knew how to grow pre-existing cultivars and breeders were successfully selecting new cultivars to release to the public, no one had identified the genetic basis for many of the traits that experts knew were important. Being able to use genetic information to find promising grapevine seedlings could dramatically speed up the pace of discovery for the next generation of grapes. And that next generation of grapes could help determine the future of the industry.

The current generation of grapevines in commercial vineyards are overwhelmingly of the species Vitis vinifera, including top cultivars like Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. Most wine-consumers know these cultivars well, but they may be less familiar with the challenges inherent to growing them. One of the most pervasive problems is the management of powdery mildew. If left to spread unchecked in the vineyards that grow beloved V. vinifera wine grapes, powdery mildew can cause heavy yield losses. Therefore, many farmers use intensive spray regimens. In Europe, grapevine cultivation accounts for only about 3% of the agricultural sector but may be responsible for more than 66% of the total fungicide consumption. This is because, by and large, V. vinifera vines are not genetically resistant to fungal invaders like powdery mildew. And, worryingly, some strains of powdery mildew are becoming resistant to fungicides, putting the future of susceptible V. vinifera vines at risk. 

Thankfully, there is a way to use fewer fungicides in the vineyard: planting disease-resistant varieties. There are many North American species of grapes that exhibit natural resistance to diseases like powdery mildew. Both VitisGen and VitisGen2 led the charge in identifying the genes which confer resistance. Being able to breed those resistant genes into the next generation of grapevines could lead to a drastic reduction in the agrochemicals needed to grow grapes. VitisGen3 was funded with the goal of bringing those new disease-resistant grapevines all the way through the selection process so that they can be released to the public. 

Critically, the public’s perception of these efforts will determine their ultimate success. Grape growing must remain profitable for vineyards, and many farmers can only justify growing disease-resistant grapevines if consumers will buy them! Consumers must therefore be willing to branch out in their wine and grape buying practices. They must be willing to select unfamiliar varietals grown under eco-friendly conditions. They must help us, as scientists, achieve the “why” of VitisGen3, the answer to why our project matters: creating the next generation of high-quality, disease-resistant grapevines that will hopefully lead to a more sustainable future for wine and grape lovers. 

Authored by

fessl023
Image of grapevine infected with powdery mildew