BackgroundIn recent years, the Ontario grape and wine industry has experienced outbreaks of viral diseases across the province. Little is known about the prevalence of viruses and viral diseases in Ontario. Since 2015, we have conducted large-scale surveys for major viruses in commercial wine grapes in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and severity of viral diseases in Ontario.MethodsA total of 657 composite leaf samples representing 3285 vines collected from 137 vine blocks of 33 vineyards from three appellations: Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County. These samples covered six major red cultivars and five major white grape cultivars. Using a multiplex RT-PCR format, we tested these samples for 17 viruses including those involved in all major viral diseases of the grapevine, such as five grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaV-1, 2, 3, 4, 7), grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV), grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV), grapevine rupestris stem sitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), grapevine virus A (GVA), grapevine virus B (GVB), grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV), trapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), among others.ResultsFourteen of the 17 viruses were detected from these samples and the predominant viruses are GRSPaV, GLRaV-3, GFkV, GPGV and GRBaV with an incidence of 84.0, 47.9, 21.8, 21.6 and 18.3%, respectively. As expected, mixed infections with multiple viruses are common. 95.6% of the samples included in the survey were infected with at least one virus; 67% of the samples with 2–4 viruses and 4.7% of the samples with 5–6 viruses. The major grape cultivars all tested positive for these major viruses. The results also suggested that the use of infected planting material may have been one of the chief factors responsible for the recent outbreaks of viral diseases across the province.ConclusionsThis is the first such comprehensive survey for grapevine viruses in Ontario and one of the most extensive surveys ever conducted in Canada. The recent outbreaks of viral diseases in Ontario vineyards were likely caused by GLRaV-3, GRBV and GPGV. Findings from this survey provides a baseline for the grape and wine industry in developing strategies for managing grapevine viral diseases in Ontario vineyards.

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The hypothesis of this research was that the maps based on remotely-sensed images would create zones of different vigor, yield, water status, winter hardiness and berry composition and the wines from the unique zones would show different chemical and sensorial profiles. A second hypothesis was that titer of grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) could be correlated spatially to NDVI and other spectral indices. To determine zonation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with multispectral and thermal sensors were flown over six Cabernet Franc vineyard blocks in Ontario, Canada. Zonation was based on NDVI values, and spatial correlations were examined between the NDVI and leaf water potential (Ψ), soil water content (SWC), stomatal conductance (gs), winter hardiness (LT50), vine size, yield, and berry composition. Additional NDVI data were acquired using GreenSeeker (proximal sensing), and both NDVI data sets produced maps of similar configuration. Several direct correlations were found between UAV-based NDVI and vine size, berry weight, yield, titratable acidity, SWC, leaf Ψ, gs, and NDVI from GreenSeeker. Inverse correlations included thermal data, Brix, color/ anthocyanins/ phenols, and LT50. The pattern of UAV-based NDVI and other variables corresponded to the PCA results. Thermal scan and GreenSeeker were useful tools for mapping variability in water status, yield components, and berry composition. In 2016, zoned maps were created based on UAV NDVI data, and grapes were harvested according to the separate zones. Additionally, spatial correlations between GLRaV titer and NDVI were observed. Use of UAVs may be able to delineate zones of differing vine size, yield components, and berry composition, as well as areas of different virus status and winter hardiness.