Abstract

Detection of Botrytis cinerea latent infections on grapes before storage is essential for effective control strategies. In the present study, a molecular detection method was developed to detect and quantify B. cinerea in grape tissues. Preliminary investigations, conducted on local varieties by fruit freezing, identified the ‘Red Globe’ variety as the less contaminated one and confirmed the preferential localization of latent infections in the berry-pedicel attachment zone (berry calottes) and pathogen presence on stamens. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) detection method, based on a probe designed on B. cinerea intergenic spacer (IGS) regions and a reported probe for Vitis vinifera as internal control, was utilized to reveal the presence of symptomless infections on bunches. The system proved to be highly specific and sensitive, enabling quantification of as little as 10 fg of B. cinerea DNA and detection of single conidia in artificially inoculated grape berries; moreover, it allowed reliable detection of the pathogen in naturally infected asymptomatic tissues. In particular, the qPCR assay revealed the presence of B. cinerea in 80 and 65% of apparently healthy calottes and stamens, respectively, with an efficiency higher than that obtained from freezing and plating techniques. Furthermore, significant correlations (R2 = 0.89 and 0.94) were found between qPCR results and the actual disease incidence on bunches from which calottes and stamens were sampled.

Autore Pugliese

• Ippolito Antonio

Tutti gli autori

• IPPOLITO A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0925-5214

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

43

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

46

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile