EnGrape · Targeted genome editing for enhanced grapevine tolerance to Candidatus Phytoplasma solani: A systems biology approach

Phytoplasma-associated diseases threaten global viticulture, with no effective treatments available, underscoring the urgent need for innovative strategies to enhance grapevine tolerance. Given the role of SWEET sugar transporters in pathogen-mediated sugar transport and evidence of sugar partitioning disruption in phytoplasma-infected grapevines, the En-grape project, with the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, will investigate their potential involvement in Candidatus phytoplasma solani infection in sensitive cultivars Chardonnay and Zweigelt. Using CRISPR–Cas9 promoter modulation, the project will assess how altering the expression of these genes affects host–pathogen interactions. Integrating gene editing, functional genomics, transcriptomics, physiology, and metabolomics within a systems biology framework, En-grape will unravel molecular mechanisms of disease tolerance and identify candidate targets for DNA-free genome editing. The findings will advance sustainable viticulture and inform next-generation breeding strategies.