Format: ORAL

Matthew D. Clark1, Surya Sapkota2, Soon Li Teh1

1 Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, USA 2 School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, USA

Grapes, and its diversity offer a unique opportunity to tell the importance of germplasm for modern plant breeding while simultaneously highlighting the need for its conservation for future generations. Because of their abundance in our food system (as raisins, wine, juice, jelly, and for fresh eating), as well as their role in sacrament, grapes hold cultural significance in many ways. The history of grape breeding in both Europe and North America is rooted in controlling fungal diseases (powdery and downy mildew) and insects (phylloxera) which persist as the main breeding targets today along with high quality. Due to the narrow genetic base of Vitis vinifera, the predominantly grown grape in production worldwide, other Vitis species from Asia and North America have been critical for introgressing pest resistance and solving vineyard problems. This review will cover the importance of wild Vitis germplasm through several examples/historic events that continue to impact the viticulture community. Grapes can be a model to exemplify the importance of wild species in impacting human life, culturally and economically, and the need for conservation in protecting important genetic resources. Modern plant breeding, although empowered through new genetic and genomic tools, at its core relies on access to the diversity for genetic improvement for sustainability and human benefits.