The XIVth International Symposium on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics is held in Zagreb (Croatia) from June 28 to July 2, 2026.
The event is organised by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb in collaboration with Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation Split, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism Poreč, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek.
Plant genetic resources have sustained human societies throughout history. Through selection and propagation, humans have shaped plant gene pools to enhance productivity, local adaptation, and diversity of products across continents.
Viticulture became central to most western Mediterranean civilisations only a few millennia after grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) was domesticated in the South Caucasus and the Near East.
The USDAAgricultural Research Service maintains Vitis germplasm repositories in Geneva, NY and Davis, CAcollectively preserving approximately 5,000 unique accessions representing 30 Vitis species.
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most extensively cultivated fruit trees in the world. It is cultivated primarily for wine production but also for fruit fresh consumption.
Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris is the wild ancestor of the European cultivated grapevine (V. vinifera L. subsp. sativa).
The onset of fruit ripening represents a major developmental transition characterized by extensive transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming that determines fruit texture, color, flavor, and aroma.
Modern viticulture relies predominantly on traditional European grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera) and is therefore heavily dependent on fungicide use to mitigate crop losses from downy (Plasmopara viticola)
While most cultivated grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) possess perfect flowers, their wild ancestors were dioecious.
Grapevine resistance breeding relies on a limited number of major resistance loci (Rpv) to control Plasmopara viticola.
New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs), and particularly genome editing, represent a powerful avenue to enhance disease resilience in perennial crops.