Project Number
PPRI 11-18
Project title
The study of insect transmission efficiency of known grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV-3) genetic variants
Project leader
Jooste, A E C
Institution
ARC Plant Protection Research Institute. Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Team members
Jooste, A E C
Kruger, K
Rong, I
Project description
The rapid spread of grapevine leafroll disease in South African vineyards is of mayor concern to the wine industry. No biological data is currently available on the transmission efficiency of GLRaV-3 variants in vineyards. The importance of the interaction between the mealybug vector and specific GLRaV-3 variants warrants further investigation and is the main objective of this proposed study.
The incidence of GLRaV-3 variants in local vineyards, their molecular characterisation and transmission efficiency by mealybug vectors play a key role in understanding the biological aspects of LRD spread.
The objective of the project is to study the transmission efficiency of known GLRaV-3 variants by the vine mealybug (Plannococcus ficus ( Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), the most common vector in South African vineyards. The transmission efficiency of four characterised GLRaV-3 variants, i.e groups I (represented by isolate 621), group II (represented by isolate 623), group III (represented by PL-20) and group V (represented by isolate SANZ), is unknown at present. In the first year GLRaV-3 variants from singly-infected plants will be transmitted to Vitis vinifera cv Cabernet Franc using mealybugs under controlled conditions. In the second year the transmission efficiency will be repeated on a white cultivar (Chardonnay).
Presentation(s)
Jooste, E and Kruger, K. 2012. Initial results of the transmission efficiency of GLRaV-3 variants. Presentation at the 11th Grapevine Virus Workshop. 29 May, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Jooste, A E C and Kruger, K. 2015. Mealybug transmission efficiency of four grapevine leafroll associated virus 3 genetic variants. Paper presented at the 18th Congress of the International Council for the study of Virus and Virus-like Diseases of the Grapevine (ICVG). 7-11 September 2015, Anakara, Turkey.