Regionally suitable grape cultivars are needed

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Missouri State University $150,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Capacity Building for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture program (CFDA 10.326) to integrate plant breeding with education and training in plant genetics and biotechnology.

The project will phenotype a self-fertilized Norton grape population of 300 seedlings for disease resistance to two destructive fungal pathogens and grapevine vein clearing virus, assess sensitivity to sulfur-based fungicides, and extract genomic DNA from the seedlings to build genetic resources for breeding regionally adapted grape cultivars. The education component will train 36 high school students, 6 undergraduate students, and 1 graduate student in plant science. Outcomes will include phenotypic reports on viticulturally important traits and documentation of student progression toward college, postgraduate degrees, and professional placement.

Work is performed in Springfield, Missouri. The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. The award is classified as a Project Grant.

Knowledge and skills of plant genetics and biotechnology are less available to students in agriculture-concentrated regions. This project integrates plant breeding with impactful education and training programs. We will achieve two goals: 1) educate and train students with knowledge and skills in plant genetics and biotechnology; 2) build genetic resources for breeding regionally adapted new grape cultivars. The project fulfills the mission of research and education in code p: plant sciences and horticulture. We will accomplish three objectives: 1) phenotype a self-fertilized norton population (sfnp) of 300 seedlings for disease resistance; 2) phenotype sfnp for sensitivity to sulfur-based fungicides; 3) extract genomic DNA from 300 seedlings. In the education component, we will educate and train 36 high school students, 6 undergraduate students, and one graduate student in plant science. We will report on viticulturally important traits of the 300 grapevines: disease resistance to two destructive fungal pathogens and grapevine vein clearing virus, and fungicide sensitivity. We will report the outcomes of educating and training students for gaining college and postgraduate degrees and for professional placement.