Plants, People, Planet is proud to present 'Grape (Vitis L.) biodiversity: historical uses, current status, and future potential', a new Virtual Issue guest edited by Colin K. Khoury, Anne Y. Fennell, Zoë Migicovsky, Allison J. Miller and Jun Wen.
Grapes (Vitis L. - Vitaceae) are among the most important fruit crops globally, consumed in the form of wine, fresh fruit, raisins, and in many products. Complex and fascinating biocultural processes underpin the crop, with a remarkable assemblage of species comprising grapevines and with heterogeneous viticultural practices and rapidly advancing new techniques supporting their production.
Avant-garde research is offering needed insights into grape taxonomy and evolutionary history, biology, physiology and development, ecological interactions, and more.
Unfortunately, several Vitis species are threatened in their natural habitats, and many are poorly represented in ex situ repositories. This special collection of papers in Plants, People, Planet documents historical and current contributions, assesses research and conservation priorities, and outlines the future potential of grape biodiversity.
Vitis science will continue to evolve, and we at Plants, People, Planet welcome future submissions on these topics to add to this collection as an evolving resource for the community.
Photo courtesy of Anne Fennell: South Dakota State University researchers measuring leaf and xylem traits in a V. riparia x V. hybrid derived F2 population in a vineyard in Greenfield, California.