Gene-edited grapevine developed in South Africa

South African researchers have developed Africa’s first CRISPR-edited grapevine, marking a promising step towards vines that are better able to resist disease while coping with growing water shortages caused by climate change.

Scientists at Stellenbosch University and South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to silence the VvDMR6.1 gene. Early research found the modified vines were less vulnerable to downy mildew, one of viticulture’s most damaging diseases, while also showing improved water-conservation traits.

The work, highlighted by Nature Biotechnology, is significant because it targets two of the biggest challenges facing vineyards: disease pressure and drought. If confirmed through further trials, the technology could reduce reliance on fungicide sprays while helping vines perform better under increasingly dry conditions.