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The advent of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins as a revolutionary innovation in genome editing has greatly promoted targeted modification and trait improvement in most plant species. For grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), a perennial woody plant species, CRISPR/Cas genome editing is an extremely promising technique for genetic improvement in a short period. Advances in grapevine genome editing have been achieved by using CRISPR technology in recent years, which promises to accelerate trait improvement in grapevine. In this review, we describe the development and advances in CRISPR/Cas9 and its orthologs and variants. We summarize the applications of genome editing in grapevine and discuss the challenges facing grapevine genome editing as well as the possible strategies that could be used to improve genome editing in grapevine. In addition, we outline future perspectives for grapevine genome editing in a model system, precise genome editing, accelerated trait improvement, and transgene-free genome editing. We believe that CRISPR/Cas will play a more important role in grapevine genome editing, and an exciting and bright future is expected in this economically significant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of grape varieties with cold resistance can be an advantage for the wine industry. 'Beimei', an interspecific hybrid wine grape variety with cold resistance and pleasant rose aroma, is now extensively cultivated in China. In the present study, the berry quality traits and metabolites of 'Beimei' and other "Bei" varieties were characterized. The sugar (234 g/L–391 g/L) and acid (6.2–8.3 g/L) contents of 'Beimei' and four additional "Bei" varieties, i.e., 'Beihong', 'Beixi', 'Beixin', and 'Xinbeichun' berries were smilar to that of traditional Vitis vinifera varieties. 'Beimei' grapes has the highest volatile compounds composition, especially the content of rose aroma compounds (2-phenyl-ethyl alcohol and neryl alcohol), which was significantly higher than that of the other "Bei" wine grape varieties. After fermentation, 'Beimei' wines showed improved quality, with a high resveratrol content (18 mg/L) compared to traditional Eurasian wines. In addition, the high content of main rose aroma compounds (acetic acid 2-phenylethyl acetate, phenylethyl alcohol, neryl alcohol and beta-damascenone) contribute to a pleasant rose aroma in 'Beimei' wines. In summary, these results indicate that 'Beimei' grapes could be used as a winemaking grape variety considering global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold tolerance is regulated by a variety of transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. Except for the well-characterized C-repeat binding factors (CBFs)-dependent transcriptional cascade, the mechanisms of cold tolerance mediated by other transcriptional regulatory networks are still largely unknown. Here, we used the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA-seq to identify cold responsive TFs in Vitis amurensis , a grape species with high cold hardiness. Nine TFs, including CBF4, RAV1 and ERF104, were identified after cold treatment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these TFs may regulate cold response through different pathways. As a prime candidate TF, overexpression of VaRAV1 in grape cells improved its cold tolerance. The transgenic cells exhibited low electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content and high peroxidase activity. Moreover, the TF gene TCP8 and a gene involving in homogalacturonan biosynthesis were found to be regulated by VaRAV1, suggesting that the contribution of VaRAV1 to cold tolerance may be achieved by enhancing the stability of cell membrane and regulating the expression of target genes involved in plant cell wall composition. Our work provides novel insights into plant response to cold stress and demonstrates the utility of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq for the rapid identification of TFs in response to cold stress in grapevine. VaRAV1 may play an important role in adaption to cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grape genome is the basis for grape studies and breeding, and is also important for grape industries. In the last two decades, more than 44 grape genomes have been sequenced. Based on these genomes, researchers have made substantial progress in understanding the mechanism of biotic and abiotic resistance, berry quality formation, and breeding strategies. In addition, this work has provided essential data for future pangenome analyses. Apart from de novo assembled genomes, more than six whole-genome sequencing projects have provided datasets comprising almost 5000 accessions. Based on these datasets, researchers have explored the domestication and origins of the grape and clarified the gene flow that occurred during its dispersed history. Moreover, genome-wide association studies and other methods have been used to identify more than 900 genes related to resistance, quality, and developmental phases of grape. These findings have benefited grape studies and provide some basis for smart genomic selection breeding. Moreover, the grape genome has played a great role in grape studies and the grape industry, and the importance of genomics will increase sharply in the future., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nanjing Agricultural University.)

Cultivated grapevine (Vitis) is a highly valued horticultural crop, and cold stress affects its growth and productivity. Wild Amur grape (Vitis amurensis) PAT1 (Phytochrome A signal transduction 1, VaPAT1) is induced by low temperature, and ectopic expression of VaPAT1 enhances cold tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of VaPAT1 during the cold stress response in grapevine. Here, we confirmed the overexpression of VaPAT1 in transformed grape calli enhanced cold tolerance. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays highlighted an interaction between VaPAT1 with INDETERMINATE-DOMAIN 3 (VaIDD3). A role of VaIDD3 in cold tolerance was also indicated. Transcriptome analysis revealed VaPAT1 and VaIDD3 overexpression and cold treatment coordinately modulate the expression of stress-related genes including lipoxygenase 3 (LOX3), a gene encoding a key jasmonate biosynthesis enzyme. Co-expression network analysis indicated LOX3 might be a downstream target of VaPAT1. Both electrophoretic mobility shift and dual luciferase reporter assays showed the VaPAT1-IDD3 complex binds to the IDD-box (AGACAAA) in the VaLOX3 promoter to activate its expression. Overexpression of both VaPAT1 and VaIDD3 increased the transcription of VaLOX3 and JA levels in transgenic grape calli. Conversely, VaPAT1-SRDX (dominant repression) and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of PAT1-ED causing the loss of the C-terminus in grape calli dramatically prohibited the accumulation of VaLOX3 and JA levels during cold treatment. Together, these findings point to a pivotal role of VaPAT1 in the cold stress response in grape by regulating JA biosynthesis., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)