In vitro assessment of grapevine resistance to two populations of phylloxera from Australian vineyards

Abstract

A perlite-based medium is described for in vitro cocultivation of phylloxera with micropropagated vines. Using this system, as well as cocultivations on excised primary roots, six vine types were screened for resistance to one or two populations of phylloxera (SRU-1 or VWL-1) sourced from different Australian vineyards. When inoculated with VWL-1 phylloxera, V. vinifera cv. Shiraz was rated as susceptible, Ramsey as resistant, Schwarzmann, V. riparia and Börner as highly resistant and V. rotundifolia as immune. When inoculated with SRU-1 phylloxera, both V. vinifera and Schwarzmann were rated as susceptible. The potential use of these in vitro methods for rootstock resistance screening and determination of phylloxera biotypes is discussed. Phylloxera behaviour and root responses observed in vitro are also described. Keywords: grapevine, phylloxera biotype, phylloxera resistance, rootstock, nodosity, tissue culture, in vitro assessment.