Maintenance and Extension of a Grapevine Genebank

PROJECT TITLE: Maintenance and Extension of a Grapevine Genebank

Project leader: Phyllis Burger (ARC)

Duration:  1 April 2022 – 31 March 2026

Project Summary:

The genebanks maintained at various ARC sites have been designated as public good/ national assets and as such plant material of many of the accessions in the grape genebank are available to the grape industry. In the past, the grape genebank was mainly funded by DST (recently DSI). However, government funding has declined and in 2021 no contribution was received from DSI.

Since 1992 Winetech has been making an annual financial contribution to maintenance of the grape genebank and requested that the ARC also approach other industry parties that may benefit from use of the grape genebank for financial contribution towards maintenance thereof. RaisinsSA is contributing since 2020.

The genebank scion collection consists of about 1,278 accessions of which about 490 are table grapes and a minority of less than 20 are raisin grapes. In addition rootstocks and Vitis species are also maintained in the genebank. The rootstocks are also utilized by other researchers at Nietvoorbij and Stellenbosch University. Previously, the ARC maintained a separate variety block of about 80 table grape varieties at Nietvoorbij (for research and breeding purposes).  Over the past few years, these varieties were incorporated in the genebank blocks and the original “breeding” block removed and not replaced. While SATI makes a generous contribution to the table grape breeding project, about half of the annual grape crosses are made in the genebank blocks, a different project and it was thus deemed appropriate to approach SATI for a contribution towards maintenance of the field genebank.

Furthermore, the directorate of genetic resources (at DALRRD) make use of the genebank for authentication of ampelographical description of varieties and to compare applications for new registrations to standard cultivars.

The genebank is a valuable resource for the directorate of genetic resources (at DALRRD) as well as researchers from various institutions (including ARC and Stellenbosch University). A DNA fingerprinting database was established and new accessions will be analysed and added to the database to aid in authentication of varieties and to solve discrepancies.

The aim, ultimately, is to maintain and expand the number of accessions in the grape genebank. The accessions in the genebank are valuable resources for both the table and wine grape breeding projects. Accessions originating from warm, dry climates and others with disease resistance characteristics may be important for future crosses aimed at climate change.  All ARC varieties for which PBR applications were filed are also grafted in the genebank blocks to maintain them for future reference and for breeding purposes.