Functional dissection of resistance mechanisms used in grapevine breeding programs for durable resistance to downy mildew

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jochen Bogs
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 504993256

Downy mildew (DM), caused by the Oomycete Plasmopara viticola, is a major grapevine disease. DM leads to an intensive use of fungicides in viticulture, which impacts environment and health. In order to reduce fungicide use, breeding programs in both Germany and France have introgressed resistance loci from wild Vitis species into cultivated grapevine, resulting in new vine cultivars resistant to DM. However, the resistance mechanisms mediated by these loci are poorly characterized. Recent resistant vine varieties combine at least two independent resistance loci to DM, in order to limit the risk of resistance breakdown, which has been observed previously. Using a combination of genetic and molecular approaches together with high precision phenotyping techniques, French and German partners will explore the functional diversity of defense mechanisms associated to DM-resistance genes, in order to optimize their combination in new grapevine varieties for improved durability of resistance.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Philippe Hugueney