DISTRIBUTION OF REGULATED VIRUSES IN cv. SANGIOVESE VINEYARDS IN TUSCANY

Abstract

RT-real time PCR was used for the detection of 13 vi- ruses in 768 samples of Vitis vinifera cv. Sangiovese collect- ed from nine Tuscanian districts (Italy). Analysis of virus distribution was carried out on 482 samples infected with viruses responsible for infectious degeneration or associ- ated with leafroll, fleck and rugose wood diseases that are included in the European (2005/43/EC) and Italian (DM 07/07/2006 and DM 24/06/2008) directives. Viruses asso- ciated with rugose wood disease were the most common (90%), Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus , which is not regulated, was found in more than 80% of infected samples, and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 was the most frequent among EU-regulated viruses fol- lowed by Grapevine fleck virus . Grapevine virus A , a virus regulated in Italy, was found in more than 30% of infected vines whereas the presence of other non-regulated viruses such as Grapevine virus D (4%), Grapevine leafroll-associ- ated virus 4 (GLRaV-4), GLRaV-4 strains 5 and 9 was low (1%). These findings indicate the need of implementing the European regulation for the production of high quality planting material.