Comparison of the effects of different virus infections on performance of three Majorcan grapevine cultivars in field conditions

Abstract

The effects of viruses on grape production and must quality are not fully understood. In this study, the evaluation of the impact of different virus infections on performance of the main autochthonous grapevine varieties of Mallorca (Callet, Manto Negro and Moll) was pursued. Therefore, a large number of vines were observed in field conditions over 4 years and tested by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for viruses listed by the international certification programmes. In each variety, some specific virus infections resulted to be more effective than the others in inducing losses in production. In Callet, yield (Y) reduction was over 20% in plants infected by Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV). In Moll, plants subject to more than one infection showed over 40% Y decrease. In Manto Negro, the most surprising results were obtained, because plants showed almost 40% Y reduction because of Grapevine leafroll‐associated virus‐1 (GLRaV‐1) infection. In addition, virus infections were linked to some must quality parameter increase in Manto Negro and Moll, but in the majority of cases it was an indirect effect, because the decrease in production parameters played a predominant role by producing an important concentration effect. However, in Manto Negro, anthocyanin content decrease was directly related to GFLV infection.

Virus interference on local scale viticulture: the case of Moll variety from Majorca (Spain)

“…In all univariate linear models studied, factor vineyard, as well as its interaction with vintage, have a strong effect on each parameter ( In the three year model for ELISA tested vines, if the co-variable Yield was not considered, the effect of Multiple Infection would be significant (data not shown). This may support the hypothesis of a Sugar Content concentration effect on berry generated by multiple virus infections, which induce Yield decreases (Cretazzo et al, 2010a). No model was suitable to explain the variances of Weight of 100 Berries, Pruning Weight, Total Polyphenols Index or Total Tannins, while parameter Number of Cluster shows patterns similar to parameter Yield (data not shown).…”

“…Common parameters of a clonal selection were measured for each plant: Number of Cluster, Yield (g), Weight of 100 Berries (g), Sugar Content (ºBrix), Titratable Acidity (g L -1 ), Pruning Weight (g), Index of Ravaz, Total Polyphenols Index and Total Tannins (g L -1 ). Methodologies have been detailed by Cretazzo et al (2010a).…”

“…Many authors have elucidated the impact of virus infections on grape performance (Rowhani et al, 2005). Cretazzo et al (2010a) observed that multiple virus infections led to very important Yield reductions in Moll. Therefore, vines were clustered according to the presence of more than one infection by the viruses previously mentioned.…”

“…These are the only viruses listed by legislation for grapevine certification and the most economically immost economically important in Majorca (Cretazzo et al, 2010a). In order to confirm results, for both negative and doubtful samples, the tests were replicated in the same year and, if necessary, repeated and replicated in 2006 (see Cretazzo et al 2010b).…”

“…Discriminating vineyard characteristics -Although a standardization of cultural management was pursued (Cretazzo et al, 2010a), vineyards revealed some intrinsic differences that can influence performance, such as: rootstock, age of vineyard and Training System. The only two rootstocks used for Moll are 110 Richter and 161-49.…”