Biotech Updates

Alternative Control Strategy for Crown Gall Disease of Grapevines through Water-Based Plant Extracts

July 2, 2014

The crown gall disease of grapevines caused by Rhizobium vitis is one of the major causes of economic losses of grape production. Recent reports have found water-based plant extracts showing antimicrobial activity. Researchers now investigate the water-based crude extracts from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) for their antimicrobial activity against R. vitis in a greenhouse as well as their ability to induce defense-related genes in grapevines (Vitis spp.).

A total of 100 ml of each extract concentration (125, 250 and 500 g/L) was prepared from fresh and pounded shoots and roots. These extracts were then applied to grapevine cuttings once every 10 days. The extracts displayed remarkable antibacterial effects, indicated by reduction of gall formation in treated grapevines compared to the untreated vines.

The expression of several defense-related genes was also investigated and it was found that treatment with the extracts of hairy vetch and ryegrass induced the activity of defense-related genes. Based on these results, extracts from tested crops can act as efficient biological plant-defense inducers and therefore capable of serving as an alternative control strategy for grapevine crown gall protection.

Learn more on this alternative control strategy here: http://www.pomics.com/yun_7_3_2014_133_141.pdf