20245118143236

The genus Vitis has two subgenera, Vitis (V) and Muscadinia (M).

While Vitis (bunch grapes) are the backbone of the U.S. grape industry (worth $4.8 billion annually), production is associated with high costs and plant/fruit disease risks.

Muscadinia grapes, which are grown commercially across the Southeast U.S., are resistant to many pathogens that affect Vitis grapes.

Despite their complementary attributes, breeding high quality, disease resistant V × M hybrids have been complicated by their genetic distance and difference in chromosome number.

New genomic tools and 'bridge hybrids' with restored fertility enable the discovery and introgression of disease resistance and fruit quality alleles to create V × M hybrids.

Our proposal is the first national effort leveraging the synergistic potential of interdisciplinary research on disease resistance and fruit quality traits in Vitis and Muscadinia.

Our 32-person team will:

1) Determine the cytogenomic basis of V × M wide hybrid success (genetics),

2) Develop V × M hybrid breeding populations combining quality and disease resistance loci (breeding),

3) Identify new disease resistance alleles (pathology),

4) Determine preferred consumer quality attributes in V × M hybrids (quality),

5) Assess market opportunities for Muscadinia-type hybrids (marketing), and

6) Demonstrate potential for commercial production of Muscadinia-type hybrids (production).

We will translate outcomes from this project to stakeholders, growers, and consumers across the U.S.

Our long-term goal is the introduction of disease-resistant cultivars with enhanced fruit quality through use of Muscadinia derived resistance loci, leading to a more resilient U.S. grape industry.

Division Of Agriculture Of The University Of Arkansas

NOT APPLICABLE

10.309 - Specialty Crop Research Initiative

Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) [USDA - NIFA]

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704-6898 United States

Single Zip Code

USDA-NIFA-SCRI-010534