Researchers at Stellenbosch University have published new findings demonstrating that targeted DNA editing in grapevines can significantly improve their resistance to both disease and drought, marking a major step forward for plant biotechnology in Africa.
The study explored how grapevines respond to environmental stress and infection by using gene-editing tools to modify specific genes associated with these responses.
According to the researchers, the edited plants exhibited reduced disease symptoms and sustained growth under water scarcity.
This breakthrough represents the first successful DNA editing of a woody perennial crop in Africa, an important milestone, given the complexity of such plants and the long breeding cycles typically required for improvement.
At the centre of the research is the use of CRISPR technology, a precise gene-editing tool that allows scientists to alter DNA at specific points. In this case, researchers “switched off” a gene known as VvDMR6.1, which is linked to grapevines’ response to disease.
“By editing a gene that makes grapevines more vulnerable to disease, we were able to reduce this vulnerability while also influencing how the plants respond to water shortages,” explained Dr Manuela Campa from the Department of Genetics at Stellenbosch University.
The results showed that the modified plants were less susceptible to downy mildew, a major disease affecting vineyards globally. In addition, the plants demonstrated improved water-use efficiency, conserving moisture more effectively under dry conditions.
An unexpected outcome of the study was the dual benefit of the genetic modification.
“These plants responded better to dry conditions. They were able to conserve water more effectively, suggesting they may be better suited to increasingly arid environments linked to climate change,” Campa noted.
The findings highlight how a single targeted genetic change can influence multiple stress-response mechanisms in plants, a development that could significantly accelerate crop improvement strategies.
Grapevines are among the most economically valuable horticultural crops globally and are particularly important to South Africa’s agricultural sector. However, they are highly sensitive to both disease and environmental stress, making them increasingly vulnerable as climate conditions shift.
The study, therefore, comes at a critical time, as both disease outbreaks and drought conditions are expected to intensify.
“Viticulture faces significant challenges as disease pressure increases following periods of environmental stress. We need to develop varieties that can tolerate multiple stresses simultaneously to ensure sustainable production,” Campa said.
The research also reflects a broader shift towards integrating advanced genome editing technologies into African agriculture.
“While genome editing has been widely applied in model plants and several crops globally, its use in woody perennial species has remained limited due to complex regeneration systems,” Campa explained.
“This work demonstrates that such technologies can be successfully applied in Africa.”
Co-researcher Dr Justin Lashbrook described the study as a significant advancement for the continent’s scientific and agricultural landscape.
“This research shows how modern gene-editing technologies can be used to improve crops so they are better able to cope with disease and drought, both of which are becoming more severe,” he said.
Despite the promising results, the researchers caution that further work is needed.
“Field trials will be required to assess how the modified grapevines perform under real farming conditions before the technology can be adopted at scale,” Lashbrook said.
Nonetheless, the study underscores the potential of genome editing as a powerful tool for developing more resilient crops in Africa.
Lashbrook further stresses that as climate change continues to reshape agricultural conditions, such innovations may become increasingly important, not only for maintaining productivity but for ensuring the long-term sustainability of high-value crops like grapevines.