Project Number: 1910-21220-005-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Sep 09, 2008
End Date: Sep 08, 2013

Objective:
1. Determine some of the key genetic factors controlling environmental adaptation and fruit quality differences among cultivated grapes and between cultivated and wild grapes. 1A. Identify molecular markers tightly linked to QTL controlling phenotypic variation in grape for environmental adaptation and fruit quality. 1B. Identify candidate genes for environmental adaptation through characterization of differences in gene content and global gene expression among wild grapes with divergent phenotypes. 2. Develop grape germplasm with novel phenotypes for fruit quality traits.

Approach:
The objectives will be accomplished by applying genetic and genomic tools and research strategies, including populations and marker development, dissection of complex phenotypes, QTL mapping, gene expression analysis, and mutagenesis. Genetic linkage maps will be contructed from populations segregating for economically important traits. Genetic dissection of traits will be conducted in populations derived from bi-parental crosses as well as diverse cultivated and wild grape germplasm.