Genetics and Diversity of Grapevine

Dear Colleagues,

Common grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sativa) is a major tree crop with high genetic and phenotypic diversity. Natural and human selection, performed by winegrowers over millennia, and breeding have resulted in present biodiversity inheritance. From 6,000 to 10,000 cultivars are estimated to be cultivated worldwide, mainly for wine production but also for table grapes and raisins. Pedigree studies showed an extensive coancestry in popular international varieties and a large proportion of family-related varieties, revealing main, recurrent genitors and population stratification that could limit the efficiency of molecular marker-phenotype association studies.

Today’s viticulture must face numerous challenges, from increasing environmental sustainability to climate changes, old and new pests and diseases, abiotic stresses (cold/heat tolerance, drought, and water stress), and restrictive regulation for growing new cultivars obtained by classical or precision breeding.

The choice of appropriate varieties for growing and the genetic improvement of wine and table grapes, and of rootstocks, too, rely on grapevine genetic diversity exploration and exploitation not only of sativa germplasm but also of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris and other Vitis species. Rootstocks are essential to the vineyard because the European vine could not survive without them.

This Special Issue is focused on the genetics and genomics variability of the Vitis germplasm to learn about the current status of this field of study, and better understand population structure, variability, and genetic traits linked to agronomically important characters, like resilience to environment change, adaptability and flexibility, phenology, fertility, the organoleptic characteristics of the fruit, pathogen resistance/tolerance, and water-use efficiency.

The submission of reviews, research articles, and short communications focused on the above topics are welcome.

Dr. Manna Crespan
Guest Editor

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