Profiling viral infections in grapevine using a randomly primed reverse transcription-polymerase chain
Phytopathology
|October 12, 2013
Summary
This study introduces a large-scale grapevine virus detection macroarray, identifying 38 prevalent viruses. The diagnostic tool efficiently screens grapevines for single and mixed infections, aiding in plant propagation and certification.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Accurate detection of grapevine viruses is crucial for preventing disease spread and ensuring plant health.
- Existing diagnostic methods can be time-consuming and may not detect multiple viruses simultaneously.
- Large-scale screening of vegetative material is essential before propagation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the largest published crop-specific macroarray for detecting grapevine viruses.
- To assess the prevalence and diversity of grapevine viruses in Vitis species.
- To evaluate the macroarray's utility for multiplex virus detection and characterizing virus associations.
Main Methods:
- Design and fabrication of a reusable macroarray with 1,578 virus-specific oligonucleotide probes.
- Application of the macroarray for simultaneous detection of 38 grapevine viruses.
- Survey of 99 grapevine samples from the US and Europe.
Main Results:
- The macroarray successfully detected virus infections in 46 out of 99 surveyed grapevines.
- Both single and mixed infections were identified, with 30 vines singly infected and 16 mixed-infected.
- Viruses from Betaflexiviridae, Closteroviridae, Secoviridae, and Tymoviridae families were detected, with a bias towards Tymoviridae.
Conclusions:
- The macroarray platform is highly effective for multiplex detection of grapevine viruses.
- This tool aids in characterizing complex grapevine virus associations.
- The macroarray is valuable for rapid diagnostics in quarantine and certification programs.
