"Innovative Canine Detection for Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Using Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs),"

This project aligns with the SBIR/STTR Phase I Program goals to protect plants by minimizing major diseases (2.1), such as Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV), and fostering agricultural innovation (2.3) through biodetection technology. GRBV is a significant threat to the wine industry reduces sugar content and yield in infected vines, resulting in lower-quality wine and financial losses for growers. Currently, no efficient large-scale testing method exists to identify and eliminate infected vines before planting. This project addresses this by identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by GRBV-infected vines and developing synthetic VOC-based training aids for detection dogs. These dogs will be trained to screen large batches of grapevines, enabling early detection of infections and preventing the virus to spread.Phase I focuses on understanding VOCs associated with GRBV infection and how they vary across viral loads and grapevine varieties. Insights gained will enable the creation of effective training aids for canine biodetection. In Phase II, dogs will be trained to detect infected vines, validating their accuracy and scalability for commercial use.Building on OBI K9's success in using detection dogs for COVID-19 and agricultural diseases, this approach could transform the grapevine industry by allowing dogs to efficiently screen large batches, identifying infected vines before the virus spreads. The solution will be viable for both public and private sectors, enabling dogs to screen grapevines before entering new states, protecting red blotch disease-free regions. The expected outcome is a reduction in virus spread, improving wine quality and profitability for growers and wineries.