ASHS 2024 Conference

Grapevine propagation depends on the formation of adventitious root formation. Vitis riparia and V. rupestris, two native species of North America, serve as the progenitors for the majority of commercially available rootstocks, especially due to their resistance to Phylloxera and ease of propagation. Despite the presence of at least 20 other native Vitis species in North America, many possessing strong resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses, their utilization has been limited by either poor rooting capabilities or insufficient understanding of their rooting potential. This study aims to achieve two main objectives. Firstly, to assess the rooting capabilities of 208 accessions across 20 different species through a dual approach combining traditional evaluation methods with AI-enhanced image analysis. Secondly, to pinpoint the genomic regions linked to rooting ability via a genome-wide association study, which will aid breeding efforts through marker-assisted selection. Preliminary analyses indicate that rooting capability is not solely species-dependent, as there is considerable variation in performance among accessions within the same species. Ultimately, this research will facilitate the development of new, better-adapted rootstocks, which will be crucial in the face of climate change and the increasing prevalence of biotic stresses.