Genetius

The study compares two Assyrtiko grape clones (A16 and E11) grown in Nemea, revealing distinct aromatic profiles linked to differential terpene and volatile thiol production. Integrated chemical and transcriptomic analyses identified up‑regulated biosynthetic genes in each clone, and five candidate enzymes were functionally characterized in yeast, elucidating key pathways governing aroma diversity in Vitis vinifera cv. Assyrtiko.

The study examined how drought and esca disease affect fungal (Ascomycota) communities and wood health in 30‑year‑old grapevines. Drought reduced fungal diversity in healthy trunk wood and boosted pathogen abundance without increasing necrosis, whereas esca expression more strongly lowered diversity in young organs and was linked to greater wood degradation. Findings highlight distinct impacts of abiotic and biotic stresses on grapevine microbiomes.

The study examined seasonal physiological and metabolic changes in Cabernet Sauvignon grapevine buds, identifying three dormancy phases: para‑dormancy with active metabolism and high TCA cycle intermediates, endo‑dormancy with reduced respiration and increased raffinose, and eco‑dormancy with rising respiration, sugar mobilization, and G2 cell‑cycle reactivation. Accumulation of sugar‑phosphates just before bud burst suggests these metabolites promote bud emergence.

The study identifies Neorhizobium vitis as a previously unrecognized pathogen causing grapevine crown gall, demonstrating tumorigenic activity in plant assays despite lacking canonical Ti plasmids and oncogenes. Phylogenomic analysis reclassifies these isolates from Agrobacterium to the Neorhizobium clade, suggesting novel, uncharacterized mechanisms of pathogenicity. The findings revise the non‑pathogenic status of Neorhizobium and highlight the importance of re‑examining legacy isolates with modern genomics.

The study assembled chromosome-scale diploid genomes of a resistant Chinese grape accession (Vitis piasezkii DVIT2027) and a susceptible V. vinifera parent to resolve the Ren6 and Ren7 powdery mildew resistance loci, revealing extensive structural variation and haplotype‑specific NLR gene repertoires. Integrated resequencing and expression analyses identified candidate CC‑NBS‑LRR genes likely underlying resistance, providing targets for functional validation and grape breeding.

The study developed a digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assay to quantify Plasmopara viticola oospore concentrations in vineyard soils, revealing non‑random, patchy spatial distribution and higher densities beneath vine rows. A leaf‑disc bioassay indicated that higher DNA‑based oospore counts correlated with increased soil infectious potential, though the relationship was weak, highlighting the need for further method refinement to improve epidemiological relevance.

The study investigated the genetic basis of agronomic and oenological traits in an interspecific hybrid grapevine population, identifying two instances where disease resistance QTL co‑localize with trait loci. Using in silico chromosome painting, the authors traced the species origin of chromosomal segments and found limited linkage drag around resistance genes due to favorable recombination with Vitis vinifera. The findings highlight wild Vitis species as valuable resources for enhancing both disease resistance and cultural characteristics in grapevine breeding.

The study reanalyzed 1,107 public grapevine transcriptomic datasets to build condition‑specific gene expression atlases and a whole‑genome co‑expression network associated with drought stress. A web‑based Hydric Stress Atlas App enables exploration of these resources, and network topology analysis identified candidate genes for drought tolerance that can serve as molecular markers or targets for genome editing. This work provides tools for advancing molecular breeding and sustainable viticulture under climate change.

The study presents a haplotype‑resolved de novo assembly of the grapevine strain Mae ve, using PacBio HiFi and Hi‑C data, revealing its origin as an interspecific hybrid between an unknown Vitis vinifera cultivar and V. riparia Gloire. This hybrid genome provides a valuable resource for breeding grapevines tolerant to diverse environmental stresses, potentially expanding wine production into new regions.

The study evaluated hyperspectral radiometry combined with machine learning to rapidly identify boron‑tolerant grapevine rootstocks, revealing substantial genotypic variation in boron exclusion and associated photosynthetic traits. Classification models (PLS‑DA and Random Forest) successfully distinguished tolerant genotypes within eight days, while prediction of leaf boron content remained challenging but still promising for breeding. The results demonstrate hyperspectral phenotyping as a high‑throughput tool for improving boron tolerance in grapevine breeding.