Abstract

Genetic improvement of grapevine relies on conventional breeding and genetic engineering, but the latter often seems far from having a significant impact. A small but important difference with previous breeding efforts is that, today, genome studies and technology advances in grapevine genetic engineering have become available in such a way that new varieties can be developed that are compatible with market challenges. Since the completion of the first reference grapevine genome sequence, relevant information has been gathered that allows for the identification of novel genes, analysis of structural gene variants, and discovery of SNPs. Also, regulatory regions for coding sequences, analyses of small RNA populations, and modulation processes coupled to DNA modification (i.e., methylations) have started to be elucidated, thereby enabling the New Breeding Techniques (NBTs), also referred to as precision breeding. The relevance of this fact is that the chance for new individuals derived from NBTs could represent a “biotech punch” to breeding due to their potential exemption from the GMO normative in an important block of economies, as for instance in the Americas. In the precision breeding era, techniques considered common for gene transfer procedures, including transient expression systems, somatic embryogenesis, and even protoplast regeneration procedures, are being rediscovered, and for this reason are the focus of continuous technical improvement. RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA-guided editing of genomes are among the most promising new techniques for RNA-based systems that affect gene expression. Also, both RNAi and RNA-guided editing of DNA are expanding technical platforms by which DNA methylation can also be proposed, thus adding possibilities for epigenetic regulation. In the present chapter, advances in gene transfer procedures from a NBTs’ perspective will be presented and discussed. We will use a chronological arrangement of gene transfer experimentation carried out over the last 10 years as a complementary view to recent excellent works already available. Our focus will be current advances and experimentation in somatic embryogenesis, transient expression systems for preliminary (and not that preliminary) evaluation of NBTs’ tools, and current experimentation involving RNAi and editing technologies. Also, our experience in the use of the editing systems will be introduced.