Grapevine Biotechnology

Development of screening methods for the selection of virus resistance in grapevines

With the development of genetic strategies for the establishment of virus resistance in grapevines, the necessity arises to make suitable procedures available for the selection of virus resistance. Grapevines can be infected under natural conditions by a multiplicity of viruses. However, these infection conditions are difficult to control, they are not reproducible, are long-lasting and are thus unsuitable for use as a selection system. In addition, the mechanical infection of grapevine by rub-inoculation with an infectious plant extract is extremely difficult and inefficient. In co-operation with the Rebschule Steinmann e.K, different procedures for screening virus resistance in grapevines are being developed and examined for their efficiency and reproducibility at AlPlanta. Both molecular and biological test systems (grafted, dual culture of vector and vines) and mechanical infection systems are examined here. The efficiency and reproducibility of the different methods are compared and confronted to field resistance.
The developed procedures should allow the early selection of transgenic grapevines with regard to their virus resistance, thus enabling the effort required for field tests in the context of the transgenic plants to be reduced for many years.

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