Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-22000-046-066-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026
End Date: Aug 31, 2029
Objective:
The objective is to elucidate disease tolerance mechanisms in cv. Sangiovese showing asymptomatic response against Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 that could provide insights into grape vine virus interactions and set the foundation for building plant-mediated resistance/immunity to complement existing disease management practices such as roguing and vector control.
Approach:
We will conduct experiments to better understand whether asymptomatic phenotype in cv. Sangiovese is cultivar-specific tolerance to infection with Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). The studies will involve comparative analyses between asymptomatic Sangiovese and symptomatic Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot cultivars to understand host factors underlying Sangiovese’s asymptomatic phenotype despite infection with GLRaV-3. For this purpose, virus-tested Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot vines were graft-inoculated with the same GLRaV-3 isolate sourced from asymptomatic Sangiovese vines in commercial vineyard. Both virus-inoculated vines and an equal number of healthy vines tested positive and negative, respectively, for GLRaV-3 were planted in an experimental block at IAREC, Prosser. During this project period, we will conduct field- and lab-based experiments using biochemical and contemporary molecular approaches to better understand host factors contributing to Sangiovese’s asymptomatic phenotype despite infection with GLRaV-3. Identifying host factors in cv. Sangiovese that mediate viral tolerance represents a promising avenue to develop novel strategies via contemporary gene-editing or gene silencing technologies for mitigating negative impacts of GLRaV-3. The results will be presented annually at the NCSFR conference and at professional scientific meetings and grape annual conventions for broader dissemination of project outcomes. The data will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journal for basic science impacts.