Disease Resistance in Perennial Crops
Perennials like apple and grapes often need protection treatments, raising concerns for producers, consumers and environmentalists. New breeding technologies could rapidly combine high quality and resistance traits, allowing for more sustainability.
Project description
What is the research project about?
The project explores innovative ways to use new breeding technologies (NBT) in apple and grapevine for long-lasting and sustainable plant protection. This entails inducing targeted genetic modifications in relevant apple and grape varieties. Additionally, a precise understanding of which genetic alterations confer durable resistances is essential. Therefore, the objectives of this project include: identifying natural resistances (caused by loss of susceptibility) against powdery and downy mildew in grapevine collections in Switzerland; combining artificial intelligence and biochemical assays to engineer plant susceptibility factors that are insensitive to pathogen’s influence, thereby conferring resistance without affecting plant traits; and exploring innovative genome editing methods in grapevine and apple to develop corresponding varieties with durable disease resistance.
Why is the research project important?
The project will identify and deploy naturally occurring and newly engineered resistances in established apple and grape cultivars. It will thus allow to meet both demands for high-quality and production sustainability. This is of paramount importance in perennial crops, due to consumer preference for established cultivars and the long lifespan of orchards and vineyards. Stakeholders include agricultural researchers, producers, consumers and policymakers, with potential global impact depending on regulatory changes.
Original title
Durable disease resistance in perennial crops