Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, regulate transcription and influence key biological traits. While many efforts were made to understand their stability in annual crops, their long-te...

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With broad genetic diversity and as a source of key agronomic traits, wild grape species (Vitis spp.) are crucial to enhance viticulture’s climatic resilience and sustainability. This review discusses how recent breakthroughs in the genome assembly and analysis of wild grape species have led to discoveries on grape evolution, from wild species’ adaptation to environmental stress to grape domestication. We detail how diploid chromosome-scale genomes from wild Vitis spp. have enabled the identification of candidate disease-resistance and flower sex determination genes and the creation of the first Vitis graph-based pangenome. Finally, we explore how wild grape genomics can impact grape research and viticulture, including aspects such as data sharing, the development of functional genomics tools, and the acceleration of genetic improvement.

Dioecy, defined by the presence of either female or male flowers on separate individual plants, is rare in angiosperms. However, it has independently evolved multiple times from hermaphroditic ancesto...