Genetics-assisted breeding for downy/powdery mildew and phylloxera resistance at fem

Abstract

The genetics-assisted program for resistance to biotic stresses began at the Edmund Mach Foundation in 2007 and has developed on two lines. The first line was based on obtaining resistant materials with parents the historical varieties of Trentino. During the three-year period 2015–2017, 3 Teroldego X Merzling genotypes, 3 Marzemino X Merzling genotypes, 1 Nosiola X Bianca genotype and 1 Nosiola X Kulneany genotype were collected the data related to resistance to various fungal diseases both on the leaf and on the bunch. At harvest the plant production data and the must characteristics were recorded; the grapes were vinified and for each year the wines were subjected to sensorial analysis. 5 resistant selections were considered interesting for all the characteristics found and therefore the data for the registration to the National Register of Grapevine Varieties will be collected. The second line of research was based on the retrieval and both genotypic and phenotypic characterization of potentially parental lines acquired from foreign breeding programs and of wild materials. Once the crossings have been planned and obtained, the evaluation of the progeny takes place following a process of Marker-Assisted Selection optimized in order to maintain a compromise between efficiency and cost containment.