MED researchers take part in the 14th International Symposium on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics

Hélia Cardoso and Catarina Estêvão, researchers at MED, University of Évora, took part in the 14th International Symposium on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics, which took place in Zagreb, Croatia, between 28 June and 3 July 2026, highlighting the importance of the research carried out at MED in the field of viticulture and, in particular, grapevine breeding.

The abstracts submitted were selected for oral presentation, highlighting the scientific interest of the topics presented and the quality of the research carried out at the University of Évora. PhD student Catarina Estêvão presented a paper entitled “Chloroplast-related pathways involved in grapevine drought responses”, as part of her doctoral thesis, which focuses on the study of the response of traditional Portuguese grape varieties to drought. This work has been carried out in collaboration with the company Esporão S.A. as part of the Vine&Wine – BioGrapeSustain project.

Researcher Hélia Cardoso presented the paper “A Portuguese Grapevine Breeding Programme Focused on Enhancing Resistance to Plasmopara viticola and Erysiphe necator”, which focused on a breeding programme for traditional Portuguese grape varieties aimed at introducing resistance to downy mildew and powdery mildew. This work, carried out over several decades in collaboration with PLANSEL Lda., INIAV – Dois Portos Innovation Centre and the JKI – Julius Kühn-Institut in Germany, has already resulted in the registration of the Defensor variety in the National Catalogue of Varieties, recognised as the first Portuguese variety resistant to powdery mildew and downy mildew. The presentation also covered the work plan for the recently approved VITISAFE project – ALT2030-2024-60, which will continue this breeding programme. This project focuses on carrying out controlled cross-breeding between traditional Portuguese grape varieties and parent plants carrying resistance loci to the pathogens causing powdery mildew and downy mildew, whilst also incorporating resistance to Xylella fastidiosa. As an innovative initiative, VITISAFE also incorporates the use of new genetic editing tools, paving the way for the development of more resistant grapevine genotypes.

MED’s participation in what is one of the leading international events in the field of vine research – and a benchmark in the field of plant breeding – reinforces MED’s strategic role in developing innovative solutions for Portuguese viticulture, making it more sustainable and better adapted to today’s challenges.