Powdery mildew comes from a fungus called Erysiphe necator that’s native to eastern North America. While America’s native grape species have developed some resistance, Vitis vinifera have not. Particularly vulnerable are some of the world’s most popular varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.
The disease’s impact on the grape industry, both financially and environmentally, is significant; it’s the reason for the majority of its pesticide use. As a result, the industry has invested considerable resources into finding more effective ways to combat it. Now, new research is offering a ray of hope for mildew-fighters everywhere. The VitisGen research collaboration, a grape breeding project now in its third iteration, is working on a disease-resistant ‘SuperGrape.’
After creating genetic maps for more than 20 Vitis families during the VitisGen2 project, researchers working on VitisGen3 are now using the data to choose and test candidate genes that are responsible for mildew resistance. Using gene-editing technologies like CRISPR, the researchers will remove those candidate genes and insert them into other grapevines, and then test them against powdery mildew to see how they respond. The goal is to better understand the genes’ functions, similarities, and differences, which will allow them to isolate favorable characteristics—and possibly lead to a super-resistant SuperGrape.
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