MOLECULAR DETECTION OF GRAPEVINE LEAFROLL ASSOCIATED VIRUSES

LEAFROLL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DISEASES AFFECTING GRAPEVINE. SEVERAL UNCHARACTERIZED CLOSTEROVIRUS PARTICLES HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DISEASE. VITICULTURAL EFFECTS OF GRAPEVINE LEAFROLL INCLUDE REDUCED YIELD, FRUIT PIGMENTATION, AND SUGAR CONTENT, DELAYED RIPENING, AND HIGHER PH IN THE GRAPE JUICE. THE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT SENSITIVE FOR THE DETECTION OF THE VIRUSES ASSOCIATED WITH LEAFROLL DISEASE (LD). THERE IS A NEED FOR EARLY AND ACCURATE DETECTION OF THE VIRUSES CAUSING LD TO PRODUCE VIRUS FREE PLANTS. THE AVERAGE COST OF REPLANTING GRAPEVINES DUE TO VIRUS INFECTION COULD REACH $75,000 AN ACRE IF THE LOSS OF PRODUCTION AND WINE SALES IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PLANTING VIRUS-FREE STOCKS IS OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE TO AVOID PRODUCTION LOSSES. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE SENSITIVE AND ACCURATE PROBES FOR THE DETECTIO OF LD ASSOCIATED VIRUSES. EACH INDIVIDUAL LEAFROLL ASSOCIATED VIRUS WILL BE CHARACTERIZED. SPECIFIC PROBES THAT ONLY REACT TO EACH VIRUS AND A UNIVERSAL PROBE THAT REACTS TO ALL LEAFROLL ASSOCIATED VIRUSES WILL BE PRODUCED. THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP BETTER ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF GRAPEVINE VIRUSES IN TISSUE CULTURE, GREENHOUSE AND FIELD GROWN PLANTS WILL PROVIDE CLEAN STOCKS FOR PROPAGATION. IN SUMMARY, WE EXPECT TO DEVELOP METHODS THAT WILL INCREASE THE QUALITY OF THE PLANTED GRAPEVINES IN ALL GROWING AREAS.