Focused Research Areas

The following projects will be supported by external funds:

·        Molecular interaction of grapevine and pathogens: CGB scientists study early events in the interactions between grapevine and pathogens. Studies will be conducted to identify proteins, signal molecules and regulators in the recognition of grapevine to invading pathogens.

·        Functional analysis of grapevine genes: CGB scientists use various molecular biological and biochemical tools to identify roles of grapevine genes in biological processes, particularly in defense against pathogens and in tolerance to abiotic stresses. Key grapevine genes will be transferred to grapevines and model plants to investigate how over-expression or down-regulation of a grapevine gene influences phenotype and, thereby, infer the function(s) of the gene.

·        Genetic analysis of agronomically important grapevine traits: CGB scientists generate or acquire hybrid populations from crosses between disease-resistant and disease-susceptible grapevines. These hybrids will be used to map disease resistance candidate genes. Some of the seedlings from these populations will also be evaluated for other viticultural traits.

·        Grapevine chemistry: CGB scientists explore secondary metabolites in the fruit of wild grapevines and investigate the nutritional and potential medicinal properties of these compounds.

·        Translational grape genomics: CGB scientists translate the functional and structural understanding of the grapevine genome into knowledge that can be directly applied to improve the agronomic in nutritional properties of cultivated grape varieties. This knowledge will be utilized to disrupt the infection process by pathogens or to strengthen the resistance response of grapevines to control pathogens through biotechnology.

·        Characterization and prevention of major grapevine viral diseases and other pathogens: CGB scientists determine the identity of virus and virus-like agents that severely damage grapevines. Grape virus and virus-like agents are studied at the molecular level. Diagnostic tools are developed to detect viruses, phytoplasmas, and agrobacteria enabling the production of grapevine stocks that are free of major viruses and other pathogens.