Project Number
PPRI GOS 02
Project title
Investigation of the virus status of grapevines cv. Shiraz clone 99 affected with Shiraz decline disorder using molecular methods
Project leader
Goszczynski, D E
Institution
ARC Plant Protection Research Institute
Team members
Jooste, A E C
Kasdorf, G G F
Project description
Vitivirus and Foveavirus specific RT-PCR amplification of dsRNA, extracted from a nucleus plant of Shiraz clone 99B infected with Shiraz decline, followed by cloning, SSCP analysis of clones and sequencing, showed that this plant is infected with uniform populations of viruses related to RSPaV-SY and GVB. The result was intriguing as RSPaV-SY type strain was reported by American researchers as closely associated with Shiraz decline and GVB is associated with corky bark disease. Symptoms of corky bark resemble, in many aspects, those of Shiraz decline. Virus status analysis of field-collected plants of various local Shiraz clones with different Shiraz decline status, using the same technique as described above, did not however reveal an association of these viruses with the disease. Application of GVB specific RT-PCR also did not reveal the association of GVB with the disease. Further study of GVB demonstrated that not all variants of the virus are detected by standard RT-PCR. New primers, which were designed using available sequences of ORF1 of various GVB variants, did not improve detection of the virus. To overcome the extensive molecular variability of GVB, further search for identical sequences in the 3rd terminal part of various variants was initiated. The work is in progress. This study also revealed that the RSPav-SY strain, despite that it was recently reported as closely associated with Shiraz decline, was present in various local clones of Shiraz affected and not affected by the disease. Continuation of study of the association of viruses, especially GVB, with Shiraz decline is of primary importance for the South African grapevine industry. The virus is transmitted by the mealybug Planococcus ficus, which is common in local vineyards. Results may have far reaching consequences for South African viticulture.
Presentation(s)
Goszczynski, D E. 2007. Study of virus status of Shiraz clone 99B infected with Shiraz decline reveals intriguing facts but do not lead to finding of clear-cut association of viruses with the disease. Presentation at the 7th Grapevine Virus Workshop. 2 May, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Article
Goszczynski, D E. 2007. Single-strand conformation polymorphism, cloning and sequencing reveal a close association between related molecular variants of grapevine virus A and Shiraz disease in South Africa, Plant Pathology, v. 56 (p. 755-762)
Prosser, S W, Goszczynski, D E, Meng, B. 2007. Molecular analysis of double-stranded RNAs reveals complex infection of grapevines with multiple viruses, Virus Research, v. 124 (p. 151-159)
Moskovitz, Y, Goszczynski, D E, Bir, L, Fingstein, A, Czosnek, H, Mawassi, M. 2008. Sequencing and assembly of a full length infectious clone of grapevine virus B and its infectivity on herbaceous plants, Archives of Virology, v. 153 (p. 323-328)