Abstract
Breeding programs for disease resistance were developed from the 19th century on, in both the old (Europe) and new world as a way to promote sustainable viticulture. The main results of breeding, in terms of disease resistance and grape (and wine) quality are described, ranging from the first American hybrids to the most recent varieties. The activity of some representative breeders is discussed and the current situation in Italy is reported. Productive, legislative, and commercial aspects for wine production are considered, especially for European Union where the wine sector is strongly regulated. The perspectives of breeding for disease resistance are discussed, including the new breeding techniques (Nbt) like cis-genesis and genome editing. The importance to interact with the society to make acceptable these innovations is emphasized. While less acceptance problems are expected with table grapes, raisins or rootstocks, more concerns might arise with wine grapes. The role of science is to give the legislator tools to cope with sustainability and to educate the society (from the grape grower to the wine consumer) to a correct understanding. Innovations can be a real advantage only if they are accepted by all the actors of the wine chain.
Highlights
There are many strategies to reduce pesticide impact in viticulture like the biocontrol, the use of containment sprayers and epidemiological models, the stimulation of the natural defense mechanisms by abiotic elicitors
One of the solutions was first the use of the American hybrids and another hybridization program which was mainly developed in France with unsatisfactory results because, despite the resistance, the wine quality was very poor
Many breeders all over the world worked on this subject producing an amazing number of hybrids
Summary
There are many strategies to reduce pesticide impact in viticulture (while controlling pests and diseases) like the biocontrol, the use of containment sprayers and epidemiological models, the stimulation of the natural defense mechanisms by abiotic elicitors. These are anyway actions to be used every year, partially solving the problem, but allowing to grow the traditional wine grape varieties. Long-term strategies to reduce spray treatments rely on the choice of proper terroirs and proper cultural practices and on breeding The latter is the most powerful tool and includes clonal selection (poor impact, mostly toward grey mould), intra- and inter-specific controlled hybridization, and new breeding techniques (Nbt) like cisgenesis and genome editing. Later on, breeding programs developed in many European, Asiatic and American countries produced new individuals with an improved level of grape (and wine) quality and in some cases a vinifera-like wine [6,7,8,9]
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