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Grapevine is widely cultivated in many countries of the world. The crop contributes to the well-being of farmers, workers, the industrial sector and the economy of countries. Demands made on the products and by-products of grapevine are constantly increasing in both local and foreign markets. This stimulates expansion of viticulture and encourages efforts toward the improvement of the quality and quantity of the produce. Such efforts necessitate the exchange of germplasm, the introduction of new varieties and the improvement of old varieties. These, if not carefully managed, could have a very negative effect upon the sanitary situation of the crop.
Virus and virus-like diseases constitute a major limiting factor to the development, quality and productivity of grapevine. Once a plant is infected, there is no cure. Therefore, the only way to secure a healthy crop is to ensure that the planting material is healthy (virus-tested) and that the factors that could contribute to reinfestation are eliminated.
Only a few institutions in the world have substantial programmes on the recovery and maintenance of healthy grapevine planting material and on detection and diagnosis of grapevine virus and virus-like diseases. Nevertheless, a wealth of relevant technology is now available. This ranges from simple methods requiring basic facilities (e.g. biological indexing) to sophisticated methods involving advanced equipment, chemicals and supplies and well-trained personnel for laboratory indexing. In both cases, the available technology could be easily transferred to those countries that intend to develop their viticulture through production, maintenance and distribution of healthy (virus-tested) planting material.
In order to make this technology universally available, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Council for the Study of Viruses and Virus Diseases of the Grapevine (ICVG) have cooperated in the preparation and publication of this handbook, which reflects in a simple and direct way the practical knowledge required and available for detection and diagnosis of virus and virus-like diseases of grapevine.
The handbook was compiled by G.P. Martelli, Professor of Plant Virology, University of Bari, Italy. Professor Martelli has accumulated, over the last three decades, a vast wealth of experience concerning viticulture virology and viticulture phytosanitation schemes and has had a significant role in initiating and developing grapevine certification programmes in Italy and other European countries. The other contributors to the handbook are distinguished authorities on virology from various parts of the world who have developed or contributed to the techniques reported in this publication.
I wish to express my gratitude to Professor Martelli and the other contributing scientists for their willingness to share their knowledge and experience.
FAO is confident that this publication will fill an existing gap in the literature and will significantly contribute to the development of healthy vineyards.
N.A. Van der Graaff, Chief, FAO Plant Protection Service