Grapevine Vein Clearing Virus: Epidemiological Patterns and Construction of a Clone

Abstract

Grapevine vein clearing virus (GVCV) is a recently discovered virus belonging to the Badnavirus genus. Characteristic to its name, the virus is associated with a disease where symptoms manifest as pronounced vein-clearing, resulting in severe berry deformation and vine decline in susceptible grape varieties. Sustainable production of wine is dependent on healthy plants. The associated disease is mainly found in Midwest vineyards. Attempts were made in this thesis to provide evidence of causality of the virus to the associated disease and to infer the historical path and migration pattern of GVCV. Conclusions and discussions will provide grape producers with the latest information in designing management strategies to prevent the disease. The results support that GVCV is likely a native endemic virus, which has recently cultivated grapevines. This evidence is crucial in establishing quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of GVCV into new territories and to avoid pandemic in grape-growing regions worldwide