The Rpv3 locus in grapevine: DNA variation and relevance for conventional breeding

This thesis is composed of two chapters. In the first chapter, I report the sequencing and assembly of a haplotype of the Rpv3 locus that confers race-specific resistance to Plasmopara viticola. Full-length sequences of the alleles were reconstructed for all genes in the locus and cloned from the resistant haplotype into an expression vector. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic calli from susceptible grapevines has been initiated for the functional characterization of each allele. During my PhD, I also worked on a grapevine breeding program for stacking major resistance genes against downy and powdery mildews and selecting high-quality resistant varieties via conventional breeding. Based on these experience, a review article entitled "Molecular grape breeding techniques" written by me and my supervisor will be published as a chapter in the book "Grape breeding programs for the wine industry" edited by Andrew G. Reynolds for the Woodhead Publishing series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition. This article is also reported in the second chapter of this thesis.