ISHS Acta Horticulturae 528: VII International Symposium on Grapevine Genetics and Breeding
CONVENTIONAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES IN BREEDING SEEDLESS TABLE GRAPES |
| Authors: | A. Perl, N. Sahar, P. Spiegel-Roy, S. Gavish, R. Elyasi, E. Orr, H. Bazak |
| Keywords: | Cultivars, seedlessness, parthenocarpy, stenospermocarpy, transformation |
| Abstract:
Seedless grapes are generally preferred by consumers for fresh consumption. The common objectives of most seedless grape breeding programs are to produce locally adapted, high yielding cultivars with quality that is desirable for the intended user. Thus, active breeding programs exist in most of the seedless table-grape producing countries. Indeed, the new cultivars developed during the last years demonstrate the achievements obtained in the different breeding programs worldwide. The Department of Fruit Tree Breeding and Genetic at the Volcani Center is actively involved in breeding of seedless grapes. We breed early- and late ripening, seedless table grapes. Special emphasis is given to the time of ripening, firmness, high sugar content, special aromas as well as loose clusters with natural big berries. We have recently developed, registered and released for commercial growth in Israel, South Africa and Chile several new selections: Vered, Prime, Mystery, Hod, Spring blush, Rocky Seedless and Black-finger. In parallel to conventional breeding strategies, we utilize transformation technologies for seedless table-grape. Stable transgenic grape plants were obtained through Agrobacterian mediated genetic transformation of embryogenic cell lines of Vitis vinifera cvs. Superior Seedless, Red Globe and others. We currently focus on several main aspects of transformation in grapes: (1) Expression of multiple gene constructs conferring improved tolerance toward fungal diseases; (2) Expression of sequences controlling seed development in transgenic seeded cultivars in order to convert them into seedless via genetic engineering; (3) Ac/Ds novel systems for identification of positive stable mutants in transgenic grapes. | |
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