Plant Genetic research - status, what it can offer to address the challenges and limitations

MARTINEZ-ZAPATER, JM; CARMONA, MJ; DIAZ-RIQUELME, J; FERNÁNDEZ, L; LIJAVETZKY, D

Aelaide

Simposio; Eighth International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology; 2008

Background and AimsNatural genetic variation constitute the major resource for genetic improvement in grapevine considering both as the development of new varieties and the clonal selection performed in established cultivars. Publications of the PN40024 and Pinot Noir genome sequences have opened the way to functional genomics in grapevine that can be addressed towards understanding the genetic and molecular basis of natural genetic variation. This major objective requires the development of additional resources and information at molecular, genetic and phenotypic levels.Methods and ResultsThe high level of sequence variation uncovered when comparing the two genomes of a heterozygous genotype like Pinot prompts to sequence additional genomes in Vitis vinifera to develop a comprehensive vision of nucleotide and genome size variation within the species boundary. Furthermore, sequencing genomes belonging to the interfertile species within the genus Vitis will provide a view of what could be considered as the Vitis pan-genome. At the genetic and phenotypic levels the available grapevine natural genetic variation in grapevine is reduced to a few thousand genotypes. This variation needs to be increased by collecting, cataloging and characterizing all available germplasm in cultivated and wild forms. Further genetic resources uncovering cryptic genetic variation and permanent mutant collections should also be generated. This will require the development of new genetic tools and procedures to facilitate management, storage and distribution of genetic variation.Conclusions and SignificanceGenomic tools and strategies successfully developed in grapevine can now be directed to understand and exploit the species genetic variation what constitutes the basis of all production applications and their wide diversity. Undertaking this challenge requires re-focusing on the plant with a genetic variation experimental framework and harnessed with a complete set of genomic and genetic tools.