Leveraging diploid genome assemblies and pangenomes to study grape evolution, domestication, and the genetic basis of agronomic and enological traits

SPEAKER: Dario Cantù, UC Davis, Department of Viticulture & Enology

Dario Cantù is a professor in the Department of Viticulture & Enology at the University of California Davis, where he holds the Martini Endowed Chair. He obtained his PhD in Plant Biology from UC Davis in 2009 and has published over 80 articles in the field of plant and fungal genomics. His research focuses on understanding the genetic bases of grapevine traits, including disease resistance, sex determination, and aroma development. Cantù pioneered the use of long read sequencing to resolve and phase the assembly of diploid plant genomes, which has contributed greatly to advancing the understanding of genomic diversity in Vitis and has significantly expanded the genomic resources available to the grape research community. He has developed and maintains www.grapegenomics.com , a web portal with genomic data and analysis tools for wild and cultivated grapevines.

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