CRISPR-Cas9 for Disease Resistant Vines

Botrytis cinerea, or gray mold, is a major threat to grapevines worldwide. This disease causes substantial losses and diminishes crop quality, both during growth and post-harvest.

As climate change poses more challenges to crops, the need for disease-resistant grape cultivars becomes more urgent. In a new study conducted by researchers from Nanjing Forestry University and Northwest A&F University, researchers made significant progress in using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to bolster grapevine resistance to B. cinerea.

The researchers looked at how gray mold infects grapevines, from a biotrophic phase (where the pathogen relies on living tissue) to a necrotrophic phase (where it kills the tissue it infects). They were able to identify key genes that govern grape resistance or susceptibility to the pathogen. These findings could open up new avenues for developing grape varieties that can naturally resist the disease without relying on chemical treatments. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology makes possible the creation of modified grapevines that enhance the plant's ability to fight off gray mold.

For more details, read the news article in NewsWise.