|
| PSU | CAS | PPATH | Grapevine Decline | Research —You Are Here |
Research on Grapevine Decline at Penn State: |
Our research on grapevine decline focuses on the pathology and molecular systematics of fungi associated with Petri disease and Esca or young and old vine decline in wine and processing grapes. A recent three year survey of vineyards in Pennsylvania and New York showed that Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, five species of Phaeoacremonium, and a complex of phialophora-like fungi are frequently associated with declining grapevines. Members of these genera have been implicated in grapevine decline in the major grape growing regions on the West coast of the United States and on other continents such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
During our survey, we also determined that Agrobacterium vitis (crown gall) and tomato ringspot virus accounted for the decline of young and old vines in our region. Our research has led us to conclude that current sources of grape nursery stock can be infested with Petri disease fungi, crown gall and virus. We are working to solve some of these problems by (1) studying the molecular systematics and population variation of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium spp. and phialophora-like fungi; (2) determining the pathogenicity of Phaeoacremonium species, and select phialophora-like fungi; (3) developing SYBR® Green and Taq Man® probes to allow us to rapidly detect Phaeomoniella and Phaeoacremonium, Agrobacterium vitis, and tomato ringspot virus in grape, and (4) developing a model for a clean vine certification program in Pennsylvania. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
