Detection of multiple grapevine viruses in New England vineyards

Abstract

Vineyards in the New England region of the USA were surveyed for the occurrence of grapevine viruses. A total of ten vineyards were visited and 62 composite samples of leaves with the petioles were collected from symptomatic grapevines (Vitis spp.). All of the samples were assayed by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (DAS-ELISA) using antibodies specific for four major grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2, GLRaV-3, and GLRaV-4), grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV), and tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV). Positive ELISA samples were further tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for each of the viruses to confirm the ELISA results. Twenty-two samples were infected with at least one of the viruses tested. GLRaV-3 (24.19%) was the most prevalent virus detected followed by GLRaV-1 (12.90%), ToRSV (3.23%), and GLRaV-2 and TRSV (1.61%). This is the first study reporting on the presence of grapevine viruses in New England. Extensive surveys need to be conducted to evaluate the prevalence and economic impact of these viruses on New England vineyards.