Seasonal dynamics of viral diseases in Ontario vineyards: mapping optimal time window for sensitive and reliable detection of major viruses afflicting the grape/wine industry

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Viruses represent a major impediment to the health, productivity, quality and profitability of the grape and wine industry in Canada and many other countries of the world. Since 2013, diseases caused by viruses have been observed and detected in Niagara region, the major grape and wine producer in Canada. This disease outbreak has caused major concern to the many grape growers and wineries as viral diseases severely afflict the production of quality grapes and the related wine products. Furthermore, viral infections will have prolonged effects to the health and sustainability of the infected vines, rending vineyards eventually lose productivity as diseases progress and worsen. The grape and wine industry is in dire need of help in the development of highly sensitive and reliable technologies for the quick detection of all major viruses. However, reliability of detection depends on the quality of total nucleic acids, the universality (spectrum) of primers to be used, as well as the optimal window of time for sampling. In two previous project supported by the Engage program, we have developed a highly successful technology for the isolation of quality RNAs from different types of grapevine tissue collected throughout the entire growing season. We have also designed broad-spectrum primers that are able to detect all genetic variants of each of the target viruses. Unfortunately, information on the best time frame for the detection of each of these target viruses is not available, globally and especially in Ontario. The goal of this research project is to uncover the seasonal dynamics of each of the five targeted viruses in Ontario vineyards representing cool climate viticulture conditions. The methods we will use include nucleic acid-based technologies (RT-PCR and RT-qPCR) and antibody-based methods (Western blotting). The information resulting from this project will not only benefit the grape and wine industries in Ontario but also other grape production regions of Canada and many other countries. Thus, this research will have far-reaching economic impact on the well being of the agriculture and agri-food sector and tourism industry in Canada.