Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.1
3.4
Journals
Horticulturae
Special Issues
Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine
share announcement

Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 4073

Editors

Dr. Alessandra Zombardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, CREA—Research centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale S. Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
Interests: grapevine genetics; grapevine physiology; germplasm conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Clizia Villano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Naples, Italy
Interests: use of molecular markers for varietal identification in plants and products; identification of genes involved in the basal immunity activated after biotic stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the oldest and most economically important fruit crops worldwide. Due to the increasing effects of climate change, viticulture is increasingly threatened, with the constant risk of compromising both grape yield and quality. In addition to rising temperatures, drought, and limited water availability, growing pressure from disease underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to ensure resilience and sustainability in grapevine cultivation.

Conventional breeding has made significant strides, including the development of grapevine varieties resistant to fungal pathogens, but this approach is often time-consuming. To date, molecular biology techniques, such as marker-assisted selection, genome editing, and multi-omics analyses, provide advanced tools to obtain improved cultivars capable of withstanding environmental stresses and diseases. Furthermore, delving deeper into the genetic variability of existing cultivars, primarily indigenous, minor, or rediscovered, can reveal resilience traits valuable for breeding and adaptation programs.

To explore these critical topics, this Special Issue, ‘Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine’, has been launched. It aims to gather cutting-edge research that will contribute to the future of viticulture by promoting sustainable genetic-driven solutions.

Dr. Alessandra Zombardo
Dr. Clizia Villano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Vitis vinifera
  • genetic improvement
  • genome editing
  • marker-assisted selection
  • climate change
  • resilience
  • disease resistance

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

33 pages, 5414 KB  
Article
Modulation of the Genetic Response in Vitis vinifera L. Against the Oomycete Plasmopara viticola, Causing Grapevine Downy Mildew, Through the Action of Different Basic Substances
by Diego Llamazares De Miguel, Amaia Mena-Petite, Marie-France Corio-Costet, Juan Nieto, José R. Fernández-Navarro and Ana M. Díez-Navajas
Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010112 - 20 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1096
Abstract
Grapevine downy mildew is a major disease in vineyards all around the world, caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni. Normally, its control depends almost exclusively on chemical and copper-based fungicides, especially in high-incidence areas [...] Read more.
Grapevine downy mildew is a major disease in vineyards all around the world, caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni. Normally, its control depends almost exclusively on chemical and copper-based fungicides, especially in high-incidence areas with high relative humidity and mild temperatures. However, the European Union is determined to reduce the application of these phytochemicals by at least 50% by 2030, forcing winegrowers to seek alternative low-input strategies for proper sanitary maintenance. Basic substances (BSs), described in European Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, stand out as promising alternatives, but their molecular mechanism of action remains mostly unknown. In this context, this study analyzed the genetic effect in grapevine plants of several commercial products composed of BSs (chitosan, soy lecithin, Equisetum arvense and Salix cortex). All products exhibited promising results, triggering the induction of similar defence mechanisms, which included pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), involved in direct pathogen repression; stilbenes, capable of producing antimicrobial compounds such as resveratrol and pterostilbene; several hormones, including oxylipins, ethylene, salicylic acid and terpenes, mediating immune signalling; and genes related to structural features of the plant, such as lignin, callose, cellulose and cuticular wax, constituting a first physiological barrier against P. viticola. Disease severity reduction differed among treatments, with Salix cortex showing the highest efficacy (58%), followed by BABA (38%) and LESOY (35%), while LECI and CHIT had minor effects (<9%). Gene expression analyses revealed that Salix cortex modulated the highest percentage of genes (41%), followed by natural infection without treatment (32%), LESOY (27%), BABA (26%), LECI (23%) and CHIT (23%). In terms of defence mechanisms, Salix cortex promoted the most pathways, LESOY induced eight, BABA and LECI seven and CHIT five. Overall, these results indicate that BSs can modulate several defence pathways in grapevine, supporting their potential use as sustainable alternatives for controlling downy mildew. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 1159 KB  
Article
Advancing Grapevine Breeding with Reliable SSR Genotyping: The Qsep100 Approach
by Ivana Tomaz, Nina Buljević, Iva Šikuten and Darko Preiner
Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121506 - 12 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 844
Abstract
Background: Grapevine breeding increasingly relies on molecular tools to introduce durable resistance to downy and powdery mildew. However, the reproducibility of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers across platforms remains a challenge for marker-assisted selection (MAS). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of [...] Read more.
Background: Grapevine breeding increasingly relies on molecular tools to introduce durable resistance to downy and powdery mildew. However, the reproducibility of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers across platforms remains a challenge for marker-assisted selection (MAS). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of SSR markers associated with key resistance loci (Run1/Rpv1, Ren3/Ren9, Rpv3, Rpv10, Rpv12) using the Qsep100 system and to validate selected markers on the ABI platform. Methods: A panel of grapevine cultivars and breeding genotypes was analyzed for SSR markers linked to resistance loci. PCR amplicons were separated on the Qsep100 BioFragment Analyzer, and a subset of markers was cross-validated using ABI capillary electrophoresis. Results: Only a limited subset of markers displayed consistent performance across genotypes. Sc34-8 and Sc35-2 were most reliable for Run1/Rpv1, Indel-27 and Indel-20 for Ren3/Ren9, UDV737 for all Rpv3 sub-loci, GF-09-44 and GF-09-57 for Rpv10, and UDV340 and UDV343 for Rpv12. ABI validation of UDV737 and Indel-27 confirmed high concordance with Qsep100 results, with allele size differences typically ≤2 bp. Conclusions: The study identifies a core set of robust SSR markers suitable for routine MAS in grapevine breeding. Results demonstrate that the Qsep100 system is a reliable alternative to ABI for large-scale genotyping, supporting its broader implementation in resistance breeding programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 1395 KB  
Review
Genetic Diversity in Vitis vinifera L. Beyond the Reference Genome: Towards a Pangenomic Framework for Representation, Adaptation and Breeding
by Francesca Fort, Leonor Deis, Qiying Lin-Yang, Joan Miquel Canals and Fernando Zamora
Horticulturae 2026, 12(6), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060756 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Abstract
The growing availability of genomic resources is changing how genetic diversity is studied in Vitis vinifera L. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that a single reference genome cannot fully represent the complexity of a species characterised by high heterozygosity, [...] Read more.
The growing availability of genomic resources is changing how genetic diversity is studied in Vitis vinifera L. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that a single reference genome cannot fully represent the complexity of a species characterised by high heterozygosity, clonal propagation and a long history of diversification. Recent grapevine pangenomes, super-pangenomes and graph-based resources have revealed forms of variation that are often overlooked in conventional reference-based analyses, including structural variants and gene presence–absence variation. Rather than providing another inventory of available datasets, this review examines how continued reliance on a single reference genome may influence the interpretation of grapevine diversity and what can be gained from a broader pangenomic perspective. Drawing on recent studies in grapevine and other crops, we discuss how these approaches are beginning to improve the representation of genetic diversity, uncover biologically relevant variation and strengthen links between genomic information and adaptive traits. We also examine the challenges that still limit their practical use, particularly the integration of genomic resources with functional studies and breeding programmes. In the end, the value of pangenomics will probably depend not only on generating additional genomic resources, but also on how effectively these can be translated into tools that support grapevine conservation, climate adaptation and varietal improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 1456 KB  
Review
Genome Editing and Integrative Breeding Strategies for Climate-Resilient Grapevines and Sustainable Viticulture
by Carmine Carratore, Alessandra Amato, Mario Pezzotti, Oscar Bellon and Sara Zenoni
Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010117 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Climate change introduces a critical threat to global viticulture, compromising grape yield, quality, and the long-term sustainability of Vitis vinifera cultivation. Addressing these challenges requires innovative strategies to enhance grapevine resilience. The integration of multi-omics data, predictive breeding, and physiological insights into ripening [...] Read more.
Climate change introduces a critical threat to global viticulture, compromising grape yield, quality, and the long-term sustainability of Vitis vinifera cultivation. Addressing these challenges requires innovative strategies to enhance grapevine resilience. The integration of multi-omics data, predictive breeding, and physiological insights into ripening and stress responses is refining our understanding of grapevine adaptation mechanisms. In parallel, recent advances in plant biotechnology have accelerated progress from marker-assisted and genomic selection to targeted genome editing, with CRISPR/Cas systems and other New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) offering advanced precision tools for sustainable improvement. This review synthesizes the major achievements in grapevine genetic improvement over time, tracing the evolution of strategies from traditional breeding to modern genome editing technologies. Overall, we highlight how combining genetics, biotechnology, and physiology is reshaping grapevine breeding towards more sustainable viticulture. The convergence of these disciplines establishes a new integrated framework for developing resilient, climate-adapted grapevines that maintain yield and quality while preserving varietal identity in the face of environmental change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genomics, Genetic Diversity and Breeding Strategies of Grapevine)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop