Welcome to Vitis Underground!
The home base for a multi-institution project to study how epigenomic restructuring underpins adaptation of grapevine to different environmental conditions over time. The goal of these investigations is to identify the molecular basis of phenotypic plasticity which manifests itself in, what vintners refer to as, terroir. To dissect the effects of the root and shoot system, and to generate data readily applicable to industry, we are using grafted grapevines (rootstock/scion composites) as a model system. We are interested in how environment X rootstock X scion interactions shape the epigenome and the phenotype of the root and the shoot system and how these complex interactions bring about the unique regional and varietal character of the fruit and the wine. This project builds on our team’s previous studies on how the root system of grapevine contributes to and modifies scion phenotype and plasticity. The page Foundations will provide you with a summary of the results of our previous work.
This study focuses on genomic and epigenomic mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity in four aims:
Aim 1 characterizes the epigenome and the reproductive traits in the scion, and examines how they are modulated by the rootstock genotype, the environment, and their interaction.
Aim 2 assesses the effect of the environment on rootstock plasticity and query DNA methylation and small RNA expression patterns associated with phenotypic variation in the root system.
Aim 3 examines how genome-wide epigenomic patterns are established over time and how they are influenced by rootstock x scion x environment interactions.
Aim 4 conducts student-led research projects in partnership with commercial vineyards on the plasticity of regionally important grape varieties, and provides public outreach to raise awareness of the viticulture industry in the eastern US.
To learn more about each of the aims and follow their progress, navigate to pages for Aims One, Two, Three and Four.
Aim 1 characterizes the epigenome and the reproductive traits in the scion, and examines how they are modulated by the rootstock genotype, the environment, and their interaction.
Aim 2 assesses the effect of the environment on rootstock plasticity and query DNA methylation and small RNA expression patterns associated with phenotypic variation in the root system.
Aim 3 examines how genome-wide epigenomic patterns are established over time and how they are influenced by rootstock x scion x environment interactions.
Aim 4 conducts student-led research projects in partnership with commercial vineyards on the plasticity of regionally important grape varieties, and provides public outreach to raise awareness of the viticulture industry in the eastern US.
To learn more about each of the aims and follow their progress, navigate to pages for Aims One, Two, Three and Four.
This collaborative research is funded by the NSF Plant Genome Research Program (award #2431712
-2431716), and relies on the collaborative partnerships between researchers and their institutions, including Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, South Dakota State University, and Missouri State University,
-2431716), and relies on the collaborative partnerships between researchers and their institutions, including Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, South Dakota State University, and Missouri State University,