Prevention and control strategies against Agrobacterium vitis in grapevine multiplication material

Abstract

Agrobacterium vitis is the etiological agent of grapevine crown gall disease, an abnormal tissue growth occurring mostly in the basal part of the trunk. The infection starts at wound sites and it is often caused by freezing temperature. The pathogen does immediately not cause the tumour, but it can stay latent in the plant for a long time, without clear damage. Infections occurring in the first years of planting lead to debilitation of infected grapevines, together with poor quality and quantity of grape production. The research activities include: i) monitoring of soils and mother plants in the Verona area; ii) monitoring and optimization of procedures in the grapevine production chain; iii) experimental trials to verify the effectiveness of Trichoderma spp. treatments of grafts and rootlings; iv) cleaning of multiplication material by chemical or alternative agents; v) hot water treatments; and vi) molecular characterization of A. vitis strains in order to establish molecular markers for traceability of infection sources.