Enabling technologies & genetic resources

This project will provide the capability to enable gene function to be verified, which will facilitate the development of perfect markers for grapevine breeding. Genetic transformation will be used to verify the function of important genes that, in turn, will allow perfect markers to be designed with a high level of confidence for use in marker-assisted selection. Embryogenic cultures will be initiated from flowers (anthers) every year and prepared for genetic transformation with constructs that either alter endogenous gene activity or introduce genes from other wild Vitis species, such as pathogen resistance genes. The resultant transgenic plants will then be assessed to determine the function of the modified/introduced grape gene. Gene-editing technologies that do not leave a footprint other than the altered target gene will be developed, to pyramid desirable traits in to existing premium varieties faster than traditional breeding techniques.