P79 - Identification of nematode-resistant grapevines for rootstock breeding by screening via glass vial assay.

Rootstock breeding focuses on nematode resistance to fight indirectly the fanleaf degeneration disease caused by Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), which is transmitted by the vector nematode Xiphinema index. Screening of candidate Vitis genotypes was performed based on nematode reproduction and fertility rates and virus diagnosis of test plants after inoculation with viruliferous nematodes and incubation for 35 days in glass vials. 11 Vitis candidates out of 68 genotypes were identified as nematode resistant and 3 of them remained GFLV-negative after exposure to viruliferous nematodes in the assay. The time and space saving setup of the assay enabled the efficient identification of promising nematode resistant genotypes with a genetic background from Vitis aestivalis or Vitis labrusca. The selected candidate genotypes may be considered for future rootstock resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]