New Perspectives in Grapevine (Vitisspp.) Breeding

Abstract

Many grape varieties or genotypes of Vitis species are grown for different purposes in various parts of the world. However, despite a large number of cultivars, there is a demand for different grape cultivars due to changing consumer expectations. Grapevine breeding programs are carried out by scientists in different countries in order to meet these expectations. Breeding studies, which used to take a long time with traditional crossbreeding methods, have become studies that achieve the desired results in a much shorter time with the development of molecular methods and biotechnology. One of the most important developments in grapevine breeding is that the relevant gene regions in hybrid populations developed from breeding programs can be identified in a very short time. In recent years, the demand for cultivars that are more resistant or tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress conditions has increased, and for this purpose, there has been a significant increase in breeding studies on cultivars and rootstocks that are resistant or tolerant to different stress conditions. Considering the current breeding programs, genetically manipulated new cultivars with desired characteristics and interspecies hybrid cultivars will soon become the main study subjects of grapevine breeding programs.