ARS | Publication request: Using functional genomics approaches for identification, isolation and characterization of genetic targets: A case study of disease/pest resistant genes from native North American grape species (Vitis L.)

Submitted to: Agricultural Engineering International Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 23, 2007
Publication Date: October 25, 2007
Citation: Lu, J., Huang, H., Louime, C., Xu, S., Ren, Z., Bradeley, F., Hunter, W.B., Dang, P.M. 2007. Using functional genomics approaches for identification, isolation and characterization of genetic targets: A case study of disease/pest resistant genes from native North American grape species (Vitis L.). In: Proceedings of the 2007 College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture Research Symposium, October 25, 2007, Tallahassee, Florida. p. 23.

Interpretive Summary: We produced and identified a large set of genetic sequences, referred to as ‘expressed sequence tags, EST’. The 30,000 ESTs produced are from a native American grape, ‘Vitis shuttleworthii’ which has increased disease and insect resistance. The sequences were used to establish a genetic database, and to construct genomic tools, such as genetic markers for a marker-assisted selection breeding program, and to construct a 12,000 unigene set ‘Vitis’ microarrays. Microarray studies are identifying genes which appear linked to fruit quality, and disease resistance traits. A second study will identify genetic sequences from the Noble cultivar of ‘Vitis rotundifolia’ Michx., a native muscadine grape which has increased disease resistance to build a comparative genomic analysis of the genetic basis of resistance. Emerging methods for the genetic improvement of grapevine will aid efforts to rapidly develop disease and insect resistant grape varieties which perform well in the high humidity of the Southeastern United States. North American grape species such as ‘Vitis shuttleworthii, V aestivalis, V. riparia and V. rotundifolia’ were incorporated provide valuable genetic variation upon which the viticulture industries will need to continue to build a renewable, competitive, and vigorous industry for the future.

Technical Abstract: We produced and identified a large set of genetic sequences, referred to as ‘expressed sequence tags, EST’. The 30,000 ESTs are from a native American grape, ‘Vitis shuttleworthii’ which was selected due to its’ increased disease and insect resistance. The sequences were used to establish a genetic database, at Florida A&M University, and to construct genomic tools, such as genetic markers for the marker-assisted selection breeding program at FAMU, and enabled the construction of a 12,000 unigene set ‘Vitis’ microarray. Microarray studies were used to identify genes which responded to evaluations of disease resistance and fruit development. A second study will identify genetic sequences from the Noble cultivar, ‘Vitis rotundifolia’ Michx., a native muscadine grape which has increased disease and insect resistance. The genetic database constructed used ESTs from these grape species to build a comparative genomic analysis of the genetic basis of disease resistance across ‘Vitis’ species. Current advances in plant breeding permit the rapid development of genetically improved grapevine. The development of grapevine which can perform well in the high humidity of the Southeastern United States will greatly expand the U.S. viticulture industry. The future use of genes from the North American grape species, such as: ‘Vitis shuttleworthii, V aestivalis, V. riparia and V. rotundifolia’ provide the valuable genetic variation needed for the continued expansion of a renewable, competitive viticulture industry.