Detection and genetic diversity of Grapevine red blotch-associated virus isolates in table grape accessions in the National Clonal Germplasm Repository in California.

Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV) is a recently discovered ssDNA virus that is widespread in wine grapes in California. We investigated whether GRBaV infection was present in 156 table grape accessions ofVitis viniferathat included 53 accessions exhibiting leafroll-like symptoms and 81 accessions from diverse geographic origins. Cane samples were collected during the dormant season in 2012 and analysed for GRBaV infection by PCR. A total of 73 accessions showed presence of GRBaV and these included raisin and table grape accessions with black, green and red berries. A 557 bp amplicon obtained by PCR was purified and sequenced, and the phylogenetic relationship among GRBaV isolates was examined by the maximum likelihood method. The maximum genetic variability among the isolates was only 8% and they belonged to two clades. Although it is not yet known if GRBaV is present outside of North America, 54 accessions from sources originating outside of North America tested positive for the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]