Our Grapes

The grape division is a relatively new addition to the Global Plant Genetics’ Intellectual Property portfolio. We represent two grape rootstocks for Europe, including the UK from the University of California Davis. This long-established grape breeding programme is world renowned for its development of virus resistant rootstocks and new wine grape varieties. The UC Davis grape breeding program is positioned in the fabulous wine growing region of Northern California.

The University of California grape rootstocks GRN1 and GRN3 offer wine grape, as well as table grape producers an opportunity to grow in infected soils without the need for soil sterilisation to control nematodes and associated virus such as grape fanleaf. GRN1 and GRN3 control a broad range of nematodes such as root-knot nematode, dagger nematode, citrus nematode and lesion nematode. Both GRN1 and GRN3 rootstocks are also resistant to Phylloxera. These nematode resistant grape rootstocks will become increasingly important in the future as soil sterilisation becomes less used.

Grape nursery partners are being identified and licensed throughout Europe. Plant Variety Rights’ protection is filed, with extensive trials and further propagation both also in place.

Behind this, we are working on further new developments in the wine grape industry which could be ground-breaking for our clients in the future.

We are truly committed to the development of our grape division, having appointed Claire Donkin to head this up since 2019.