South African Scientists Edit Grapevine DNA for the First Time

Researchers in South Africa said they have, for the first time, edited the DNA of a woody crop plant on the continent, using CRISPR to alter a grapevine gene tied to disease susceptibility and water stress. The work, led by Stellenbosch University and the Agricultural Research Council, focused on VvDMR6.1, a gene that appears to make grapevines more vulnerable to downy mildew, one of the most damaging diseases in vineyards worldwide.

The study, published recently in the journal Plant Stress, found that switching off the gene reduced the plants’ vulnerability to downy mildew and also changed how they responded to limited water. The researchers said the edited vines conserved water more effectively under dry conditions, a result that could matter as climate change increases drought pressure in wine regions and raises the risk of disease outbreaks after environmental stress.

Manuela Campa, a lead researcher in the Department of Genetics at Stellenbosch University, said the findings show that a single targeted genetic change can affect more than one trait at once. She said the team’s goal was to improve grapevines so they can better cope with disease and drought, two pressures that are expected to intensify in coming years.

The researchers described the work as an important step for plant biotechnology in Africa, where genome editing has been used far less often in woody perennial crops than in annual plants. Grapevines are especially significant in South Africa’s agricultural sector and are also a high-value crop globally, making them a logical target for research aimed at improving resilience.

The study used CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes at specific points in DNA. In this case, the researchers disabled one gene rather than adding foreign DNA. They said that approach could help speed future breeding efforts if regulators and growers accept edited plants as part of crop improvement programs.

Campa said the results suggest genome editing could become a practical tool for developing grape varieties that handle multiple stresses at once. She also said further testing will be needed under real vineyard conditions before any commercial use can be considered.