An advanced genotyping tool to inspect grapevine variability: the Axiom^®Vitis22K SNP array.

Area of Science:

• Plant Genetics
• Agricultural Science
• Genomics

Background:

• Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is a globally significant fruit crop with extensive socio-economic impact.
• Wild Vitis species offer crucial genetic diversity for stress tolerance, vital for crop improvement.
• Genotyping is essential for understanding grapevine genetic diversity and traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Axiom®Vitis22K SNP array for high-throughput grapevine genotyping.
• To create a valuable tool for genetic diversity assessment and marker-assisted selection in grapevine breeding.
• To identify and validate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with key grapevine traits.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Axiom®Vitis22K SNP array using existing and novel SNPs from diverse Vitis species.
• Genotyping of 144 diverse grapevine genotypes using the Vitis22K array.
• Data analysis with Axiom Analysis Suite and AxioSAFE pipeline for marker identification and validation.

Main Results:

• Successfully identified 10,314 robust polymorphic markers and 13 curated variants.
• Demonstrated the array's utility in analyzing genetic diversity and relationships within grapevine panels.
• Validated candidate SNPs linked to important traits like flower sex, seed content, berry color, and taste.

Conclusions:

• The Vitis22K SNP array is a powerful resource for large-scale genetic studies in grapevine.
• This array will significantly advance grapevine genetic research and accelerate breeding programs.
• The validated markers provide a foundation for understanding and improving desirable grapevine characteristics.