Detection and distribution of grapevine fanleaf virus in some grapevine growing regions in Syria

Abstract EN

Grapevine fanleaf virus is one of the most destructive grapevine viruses in the world.

it is transmitted by grafting and the nematode vector Xiphinema index.

it causes fanleaf, leaf mosaic, shortened internodes and leaf malformation symptoms and affects negatively the yield and fruit quality.

the virus has not been studied enough in syria.

accordingly, this study aimed to assess the distribution of GFLV on different varieties in some grapevine growing regions in syria.

survey was conducted during 2016 / 2017- 2017 / 2018 growing seasons in Lattakia, Tartous, Homs, Hama and al-Sweida provinces.

360 samples showing different types of symptoms suggestive of virus infection such as mosaic, vein yellowing, chloroses, vein banding, mottling, leaf distortion, and shortened internodes were collected.

out of 360 grape samples with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 42 samples were found to be infected with GFLV (11.66% of the tested samples), using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA).

the highest relative infection rate was recorded in Hama and Homs (22.72% and 17.10%, respectively).

The highest relative infection rate (22.22% of the tested symptomatic samples) was recorded on the small rose fruit and black Zinni varieties.

these results provided new information about the distribution of GFLV in Syria and suggest the possible occurrence of mixed infections with other different viruses affecting grapevine in Syria.