Improved Varietal Traits

The VitisGen project is a multi-institution research collaboration funded by the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative for the development of new grape varieties. The project was launched in 2011 and completed in 2016. The vision of the project was to identify high priority vine performance and fruit quality traits with economic value to the grape industry and to improve high priority traits using both traditional and modern biological approaches. Powdery mildew resistance was identified as one of the highest priority traits targeted for improvement by the research team of the VitisGen project. The economics team for the VitisGen project included the following collaborators of CWE: Julian Alston, Kate Fuller and Olena Sambucci. Publications by the VitisGen Economics Team include:

The Value of Powdery Mildew Resistance in Grapes: Evidence from California

The Costs of Powdery Mildew in Grapes.

Other links:

VitisGen Project Website

Other Research on the Economics of Powdery Mildew Management

Contact CWE collaborators:

Julian Alston

Kate Fuller

Olena Sambucci