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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346423
Research Project: Integrated Disease Management Strategies for Woody Perennial Species

Location: Crops Pathology and Genetics Research

Title: Investigating the spread and effect of Grapevine red blotch virus in California-grown Zinfandel

Author
item WUNDERLICH, LYNN - University Of California Agriculture And Natural Resources (UCANR)
item BOLLINGER, MICHAEL - University Of California
item Castillo, Meredith
item PRETO, CINDY - University Of California
item BAHDER, BRIAN - University Of Florida
item ZALOM, FRANK - University Of California
item Sudarshana, Mysore

Submitted to: Group of International Experts of Vitivinicultural Systems for CoOperation(GiESCO)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2017
Publication Date: 11/5/2017
Citation: Wunderlich, L.R., Bollinger, M.L., Castillo, M.N., Preto, C.R., Bahder, B.W., Zalom, F.G., Sudarshana, M.R. 2017. Investigating the spread and effect of Grapevine red blotch virus in California-grown Zinfandel. In: Proceedings of XXth Group of International Experts of Vitivinicultural Systems for CoOperation(GiESCO) International Meeting, November 5-10, Mendoza, Argentina.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) is a major concern for California winegrape growers since its discovery in 2012. Negative impacts on juice have been reported, though inconsistent. A treehopper, Spissistilus festinus, transmitted GRBaV in strict laboratory studies, but field evidence of transmission is lacking. Many GRBaV-infected vines originate from the nursery and are being removed. Our goal is to study GRBaV spread and its effects on juice quality in a dry-farmed own-rooted Zinfandel (Vitis vinifera) vineyard in Amador County. The vineyard was field grafted from a block that, in turn, was grafted from a 1923 planting. Between 2015 and 2016, 1224 vines from three blocks were visually mapped for symptoms, and petioles were collected from a subset of vines for confirmation of GRBV infection by qPCR. Overall infection in 2015 was rated 24.7%; and increases observed visually in 2016 were 18.2%, 19.9%, and 7.1% for blocks 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Girdled vines were observed in fall and S. festinus were collected. Prior to harvest, thirty berries from ten healthy and ten GRBV-infected vines were collected. Berry weight, pH and total soluble solids (TSS) of juice were measured. Infected berries were heavier and mean pH slightly lower in 2015. Mean TSS was 7.75 and 4.34 °Brix lower in berry juice from infected vines compared to healthy in 2015 and 2016, respectively.