PubMed · 2026-05-26
Scientists identified a tiny DNA insertion/deletion near the FAD5 gene in grapevines that ramps up production of unsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes, directly improving cold tolerance. This genetic variant explains part of why some grapevine varieties survive harsh winters better than others.
A small insertion/deletion (InDel) in the regulatory region of the FAD5 gene was pinpointed as a driver of cold tolerance, identified using Bulked Segregant Analysis of a grapevine breeding population.
The InDel boosts FAD5 gene activity, increasing the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes — the key molecular mechanism keeping membranes functional at low temperatures.
The study establishes FAD5 as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection of cold-hardy grapevine varieties, with implications for woody perennial crops broadly.
