Establishment, maintenance and ordering of grapevine traits collections (Vitis vinifera L.)

Based on the grapevine genotypes of NSC “Tairov Research Institute of Viticulture and Wine-Making” analysis, traits collections have been created and registered, representing genotypes for breeding programs to obtain new varieties resistant to abiotic and biotic environmental factors (frost and phytopathogens) under conditions implementation of climate change scenarios, varieties with improved quality traits and seedless varieties. Genetic ordering of traits collections has begun on the basis of varieties molecular identification using microsatellite DNA markers (from 5 to 9 MC loci) and identification using DNA markers of genes of interest or gene complexes (primarily a trait of seedlessness). Microsatellite analysis made it possible to identify a total of about 80 genotypes, mainly the varieties breeded at the NSC “Tairov Research Institute of Viticulture and Wine-Making”, belonging to the traits collections of resistance and quality. Visual sanitary control of three traits collections showed a practical absence of virus diseases and grapevine crown gall disease symptoms. Sometimes symptoms similar to the phytoplasma infection manifestation were found. The data of virus diseases agents identification by ELISA showed the absence the most harmful viruses — grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) and grapevine leafroll virus 1 (GLRaV I) on 19 samples tested. From samples of resistance traits collection one sample was positive on grapevine leafroll virus 3 and two were positive on grapevine fleck virus (GfkV). These samples should be eliminated from further propagation and genetic material moving between germplasm repositories. The causative agent of grapevine crown gall disease (Agrobacterium vitis) was not detected on 14 samples of 3 traits collections tested by PCR. It has been determined that the sanitary status of grapevine traits collections practically corresponds to the European minimum sanitary requirements, genetic ordering of characteristic collections will be continued.

Maximising the effectiveness of insecticides to control mealybugs in vineyards

Mealybugs (Hemiptera Pseudococcidae) are the most important insect pests in New Zealand vineyards because they vector grapevine leafroll virus which seriously debilitates vines and reduces wine quality A field trial was conducted on a commercial vineyard using the insecticides prothiofos (Tokuthion) and buprofezin (Applaudtrade;) Factors tested were the timing and number of applications water rate (250 500 or 1000 litres/ha) and inclusion of an alkylsilicone or organosilicone spreadertype adjuvant Prothiofos was applied in late September (late dormant) while buprofezin was sprayed at late dormant mid October and late November (preflowering) The best treatments for reducing mealybug numbers and proportion of infested leaves were prothiofos at late dormant and two later applications of buprofezin Two applications of buprofezin were more effective than one more than halving the number of mealybugs A water rate of 500 litres/ha was equally as effective as 1000 litres/ha None of the three adjuvants improved the efficacy of prothiofos or buprofezin