Development and application of CRISPR/Cas in grapevine

Grapevine (Vitis spp.) is greatly influenced by climatic conditions and its economic value is therefore directly linked to environmental factors. Among these factors, temperature plays a critical role in vine phenology and fruit composition. In such conditions, elucidating the mechanisms employed by the vine to cope with heat waves becomes urgent. For the past few years, our research team has been producing molecular and metabolic data to highlight the molecular players involved in the response of the vine and the fruit to high temperatures [1]. Some of these temperature-sensitive genes are currently undergoing characterization using transgenesis approaches coupled or not with genome editing, taking advantage of the Microvine genotype [2].

Recent advancements in genomic sequencing technologies have enabled more detailed and direct studies of DNA methylation, which can help characterise epigenetic variations in plants. The Grapevine Improvement team at the Bragato Research Institute is studying the use of Oxford Nanopore sequencing to identify epigenetic changes associated with environmental differences among clonally-propagated grapevines.

This study involved sequencing DNA from the same Sauvignon Blanc clone, sourced from diverse New Zealand viticultural regions, using the PromethION platform.

Winemaking generates significant amounts of by-products, such as grape pomace and wine lees, which are primarily used for distillation and composting.

For the period of 10 years in the condition of Skopje vineyard area, at two regional (Vranec and Smederevka) and two international (Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay) grapevine cultivars, the researches are done.

Dividing agrarian exploitations into microfields is a problem that influences the modern viticulture in a very important way. The aim of this work is the study of the influence of Geology and Geomorphology in agricultural structures