Development of an in vitro Dual Culture System for Grapevine and Xiphinema index as a Tool for Virus Transmission

  • P. Winterhagen RLP AgroScience GmbH, AlPlanta – Institute for Plant Research, Breitenweg 71, 67435 Neustadt / Weinstraße, Germany
  • G. Brendel Rebschule Steinmann e. K., Sandtal 1, 97286 Sommerhausen, Germany
  • G. Krczal RLP AgroScience GmbH, AlPlanta – Institute for Plant Research, Breitenweg 71, 67435 Neustadt / Weinstraße, Germany
  • G.M. Reustle RLP AgroScience GmbH, AlPlanta – Institute for Plant Research, Breitenweg 71, 67435 Neustadt / Weinstraße, Germany

Abstract

Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is a nepovirus that is transmitted to grapevines by the ectoparasitic nematode
Xiphinema index. GFLV causes severe losses in yield and quality in viticulture worldwide. Presently, laborious and
time-consuming field trials or greenhouse tests are necessary for screening putative GFLV resistance in new grape
genotypes developed in breeding programmes. We developed an in vitro dual culture system for grapevines and
nematode vectors that requires less time and space than inoculation experiments done in the greenhouse. Virus
infection of in vitro grapevines was investigated using immunocapture-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain
reaction (IC-RT-PCR) analysis. The development of root galls induced by feeding nematodes on in vitro grapevines
was also analysed. Virus infection in grapevines in the dual culture with viruliferous nematodes was detected six
weeks post-inoculation. Root galls were always absent from parasitised in vitro grapevines with detectable virus
infection, whereas they developed on some parasitised, but virus-negative tested grapevines. Therefore, root galls
cannot be used as a reliable indicator for parasitism and virus transmission.

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Published
2016-12-13
Section
Articles