Grape

Grape is being cherished predominantly for wines since the inception of domestication of fruit crops. The grape is comprised of 16 genera including Vitis which is most widely domesticated and classified into Muscadinia and Euvitis. These two classes are easily differentiated based on morphological, anatomical, and cytological parameters. The majority of varieties under cultivation derived from Euvitis and species Vitis vinifera. Hybridization of introduced cultivars with the locally available cultivars was the key component for the adaptation of grapes in the New World. The primary gene pool of grapevine includes Mediterranean region, North America, China, and Himalayan region. The wild relatives are the rich sources for various traits of interest including biotic and abiotic stresses and have played a crucial role in adaption of genotypes holding commercial value. Ascertaining the significance of gene pool, enrichment of genetic stock, and their preservation has been intensified globally on various platforms. Utilization of diverse gene pool will help in adjusting the genotypes under climatic change regimes and ensure desired quality grapes with minimized use of plant growth regulators. At genetic level, molecular markers are documented for various required traits such as seedlessness, flowering time, time of veraison, ripening time, berry weight, seed number, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and cold tolerance and as a source of resistance (downy mildew resistance, powdery mildew resistance, crown gall, phylloxera, nematode, etc.), which will help in trait-specific breeding programs. Dependency on only few commercial valued genotypes and narrow genetic base is threatening, and therefore creating alternate sources using diverse gene pool is always a safeguard under unpredictable conditions. The genetic diversity will provide the short-term and long-term solutions for the sustainability of the grape industry.