Detection of crown gall agents on Ukrainian vineyards by PCR

Abstract

Crown gall of grape is one of the most serious diseases in commercial nurseries of many grape-growing countries. On young vineyards of susceptible cultivars up to 75% of plants may die from galls surrounding trunks and interfering the normal water and nutrients supply (Negrul, 1951, Burr, 1999). Crown gall agents (Rhizobium vitis and R. radiobacter (Agrobacterium vitis, A. tumefaciens)) survive in grapevine xylem and are transmitted by vegetative propagation (Lehoczky, 1968). In many cases infected plants remain symptomless for a long time, allowing to select planting material from infected vineyards (Burr, 1984). Use of such planting material results in further spread of pathogens and consequent losses in viticulture.