Abstract
Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Michx) are considered as excellent genetic resources for grape breeding programs as they are known for their hardiness and resistance to pests and diseases. However, contrary to popular belief, our study indicated that not all muscadine cultivars are resistant to anthracnose disease. In order to identify a source of genetic tolerance towards anthracnose among muscadine cultivars, a series of in-situ and ex-situ experiments were conducted through strict and sensitive screening processes. Two consecutive years of field evaluation of 54 grape cultivars showed various levels of anthracnose incidence among the cultivars between a scale of 0 (tolerant) to 5 (highly-susceptible). Resistance bioassay by inoculation of different spore densities of Elsinoë ampelina on 40 cultivars presented similar results and was consistent with those obtained from the field test. A real-time PCR analysis was conducted to investigate differences of gene expression between susceptible and tolerant cultivars and to confirm results by phenotypic identification. Expression of genes encoding chalcone synthase, stilbene synthase, polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein, chitinase and lipid transfer-protein was only detected in tolerant cultivars. Resistant muscadine cultivars identified in this study could be excellent candidates for grape disease resistance breeding programs.
Highlights
Anthracnose of grapes is an economically devastating disease caused by the fungus Elsinoë ampelina Shear
16.5 μm × 3.9 to 5.7 μm, cylindrical and hyaline with pointed ends (Figure 1D), which was consistent with previous reports for E. ampelina (3)
Plants respond to pathogen infestation by expressing genes encoding defense-related proteins which are believed to play a role in plant defense
Summary
Anthracnose of grapes is an economically devastating disease caused by the fungus Elsinoë ampelina Shear. The pathogenic fungus, which attacks all aerial parts of the plants, such as fruits, leaves, tendrils and petioles, is of considerable economic importance [1,2,3]. Strategies for the control of anthracnose in grapevines, such as developing resistant cultivars are necessary in order to reduce the production cost and environmental impacts of fungicide applications in areas of high disease pressure. For this purpose, the selection of genetic resources showing tolerance to anthracnose is a prerequisite for any breeding program
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