Project Number: 1910-21220-005-07
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Aug 01, 2011
End Date: Sep 30, 2012

Objective:
To conduct genetic association analysis in grape for variation in amino acid composition of ripening berries using a population genomics approach in a large collection of V. vinifera genotypes.

Approach:
The funding proposal comprises a large multi-faceted project to answer several questions related to grape and yeast genomics. A central question of the proposal is to more closely examine changes in vine and berry amino acid composition and the effect on the resultant fruit/wine quality. The portion of the work to be conducted by C. Owens is to conduct a genetic association analysis for amino acid composition in a sub-set of the U.S. national grape germplasm collection. This work will also take advantage of recent advances in SNP genotyping technologies developed by ARS scientists. Additional funding will expand the scope of the in-house work I perform pursuant to Objective 1 of the CRIS project plan and contribute to the genetic dissection of important traits of grape, enabling the more rapid and efficient development of improved grape varieties. Objective 1 of the CRIS Project Plan is to “Determine some of the key genetic factors controlling environmental adaptation and fruit quality differences among cultivated grapes and between cultivated and wild grapes”.