Scientists Use CRISPR to Produce a 'SuperGrape'

Powdery mildew has a significant impact on the grape industry. The disease's impact, both financially and environmentally, is significant and it is the reason for the majority of pesticide use on grapes. Now, the industry has invested in finding more effective ways to fight it. The VitisGen research collaboration, a grape breeding project now in its third iteration, is working to produce a disease-resistant ‘SuperGrape' using CRISPR.

Powdery mildew comes from the fungus Erysiphe necator, native to eastern North America. Some of the native grape species in the United States have developed but Vitis vinifera has not. Particularly vulnerable are some of the world's most popular varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

After creating genetic maps for more than 20 Vitis families during the VitisGen2 project, researchers in the VitisGen3 used the data to choose and test candidate genes that are responsible for mildew resistance. Using the gene editing technology CRISPR, the researchers will remove those candidate genes and insert them into other grapevines to test them against powdery mildew and see how they respond.

The SuperGrape research includes the previous two iterations of VitisGen, where researchers were able to "stack" the plant material with several mildew-resistant genes. In some cases, up to six genes were stacked to fight off the fungus. This is done because a single form of resistance is not enough and diseases like E. necator evolves and can outpace treatments faster than they can be developed.

For more details, read the article in SevenFiftyDaily Science.