TITLE: Adapting Table-grape Genetics to the Future 

SPEAKER: Dr. Noam Reshef - Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Institute, Israel

ABSTRACT:

Current elite grapevine cultivars are susceptible to fungal diseases, making viticulture heavily dependent on frequent pesticide applications. Additionally, the changing climate is increasingly jeopardizing the chemical composition and quality of their fruit. These challenges are expected to intensify in the coming decades, necessitating the long-term adaptation of genetic material.
My lab at the Agricultural Research Organization addresses these issues by integrating an international-scale table grape breeding program with quantitative genetics and functional genomics approaches. Our objectives are to develop
knowledge and tools to accelerate the breeding of cultivars that are better adapted to future challenges and combine improved quality with lower inputs.
This talk will delve into our ongoing research on the genetic and molecular regulation of malate levels in grape. Malate influences the acidity and sourness of both the fruit and wine and is a critical factor that limits the introgression of disease-resistance alleles into commercial cultivars, as well as the quality of the fruit under hot conditions. I will present our recent findings, spanning from population-scale studies to insights into fruit metabolism and specific gene functions, showcasing the value of these approaches in providing tools for controlling this key quality trait.

HOST: Dr. Silvia Vezzulli