First report of Grapevine Pinot gris virus in Italy
Grapevine Pinot gris virus (Trichovirus, GPGV) is a new virus of grapevine which was originally identified in 1 plant (Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Pinot gris’) showing a syndrome characterized by chlorotic mottling and leaf deformations, in the Autonomous Province of Trento, in Italy. This plant was also infected by 3 other viruses (Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus, Grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus and Grapevine Syrah virus 1) and 2 viroids (Hop stunt viroid and Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1). In the initial study, a limited field survey for the presence of GPGV in diseased and symptomless plants from three different cultivars did not allow the virus to be clearly associated with the observed symptoms. GPGV is phylogenetically closest to Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus, another Trichovirus which has been found in Japan and is transmitted by eriophyid mites. Studies are being carried out in Italy to better understand the epidemiology of GPGV.
The NPPO of Italy recently informed the EPPO Secretariat about the detection of GPGV in a commercial vineyard located in San Giorgio Piacentino (province of Piacenza), in the region of Emilia-Romagna. The grower had reported poor vegetation and strong production reduction in the affected vineyard. Disease symptoms were observed on 10-20 year-old grapevine plants (Vitis vinifera cvs. ‘Pinot noir’, ‘Pinot gris’, ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Sauvignon’) but not on young plants. The disease was observed on approximately 8 ha of the vineyard (total vineyard surface is 13 ha) with 20% of the plants showing symptoms. In August 2013, the identity of the virus was confirmed by the virology laboratory of the University of Bologna, using RT-PCR. For the moment, no phytosanitary measures are taken but a PRA is in progress.
The pest status of Grapevine Pinot gris virus in Italy is officially declared as: Present, identified in one grapevine orchard in Piacenza province.
Note: Interestingly, GPGV has also been reported from the Republic of Korea. In September 2010, inner necrosis of berries and poor fruit set were found in grapevine cv. Tamnara (Vitis vinifera x V. labrusca) in Siheung (Gyeonggi province). Approximately 1.7% of the 300 vines were affected. The berry symptoms resembled those reported for Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus in Japan, although necrosis in shoots, shortened internodes and mosaic patterns on leaves were not observed. The identity of the virus was confirmed by molecular analysis (RT-PCR, sequencing).
Sources
Cho IS, Jung SM, Cho JD, Choi GS, Lim HS (2013) First report of Grapevine pinot gris virus infecting grapevine in Korea. New Disease Reports 27, 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2013.027.010
Giampetruzzi A, Roumi V, Roberto R, Malossini U, Yoshikawa N, La Notte P, Terlizzi F, Credi R, Saldarelli P (2012) A new grapevine virus discovered by deep sequencing of virus- and viroid-derived small RNAs in cv Pinot gris. Virus Research 163, 262-268.
Martelli GP (2012) Grapevine virology highlights: 2010-2012. Proceedings of the 17th Congress of ICVG (Davis, US, 2012-10-07/14).
NPPO of Italy (2013-10).