Rootstocks for Nematode Management Peter Cousins, Grape Rootstock Breeder and Geneticist, USDA ARS New York

State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University 630 W. North Street, Geneva, NY 14456 315-787-2340 peter.cousins@ars.usda.gov

The goal of this presentation is to outline the use of rootstocks in managing nematodes in vineyards. We will discuss the damage caused by nematodes, the value of using rootstocks in managing nematodes, and considerations to make when choosing rootstocks and using them in your vineyard. This opening slide is of a cluster of wine grapeswhy? This is to remind us that rootstocks are neither interesting nor important on their own. We use rootstocks in order to help us produce quality fruitin this case, wine grapeswhile managing pests and diseases that live in the soil and could damage grape roots. Rootstocks are one of the tools that we can apply to the economically and environmentally sustainable production of fruit.

Team Rootstock: Targeting nematodes to make America safe for viticulture

Debra Johnston Jason Plate

Acknowledgements
Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers New York Wine and Grape Foundation Viticulture Consortium Cornell University and NYSAES USDA-ARS American Vineyard Foundation California Raisin Marketing Board California Table Grape Commission California Grape Rootstock Research Foundation University of California

In viticulture we use rootstocks to provide protection against pests and diseases of the soil. In other fruit crops, such as peach and apple, rootstocks are a requirement for clonal propagation, since these trees are difficult to root from cuttings. However, most grape varieties are easily propagated from cuttings, so we use rootstocks that provide protection (resistance or tolerance) against pests and diseases that could damage the grapevine roots. Phylloxera is the chief reason to use rootstocks in viticulturephylloxera feeding on roots can kill grapevines, which is usually not true of nematode feeding damage. Phylloxera are small insects, similar to aphids, that can feed on grapevine leaves and roots. It is the root feeding that is the more damaging. Phylloxera is native to eastern North America (not to Washington). The grapevine species that are native to the original range of phylloxera are either resistant or tolerant to phylloxera feeding. These species include Vitis riparia, Vitis rupestris, and Vitis berlandieri. Vitis vinifera, which is native to Europe and Asia, outside the original range of phylloxera, is highly susceptible to the damage caused by phylloxera root feeding. When phylloxera was accidentally introduced to Europe in the 19th century, it spread rapidly and many thousands of acres of vineyards were destroyed. Using rootstocks developed from North American species was adopted as a sustainable practice for phylloxera protection, since these species co-exist with phylloxera. Because of the importance of V. vinifera varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and the potential for serious damange to V. vinifera vineyards from phylloxera, most rootstock use and research takes place in the context of phylloxera resistance first, nematode resistance second, although there are a few exceptions.

Nematode infested vineyard

Here is a nematode infested vineyard showing the damage to the vines caused by nematode feeding. Note the smaller vines, demonstrative of root damage and reduction in the ability of vines to take up water and nutrients. The roots are being fed upon and damaged by root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species). If nematodes are feeding on the roots of a grapevine, the symptoms on the shoot can include water deficit stress (wilting), nutrient deficiency, stunting of shoots, and decreased yield. It is unusual for vines to rapidly decline and die from nematode feeding alone. However, in some cases young vines newly planted into a site with very high nematode populations in the soil may fail to establish.

Root-knot nematode galls on grapevine roots

Root system of susceptible grapevine after 8 weeks exposure to root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are endoparasitic nematodes. The juvenile nematode moves through the soil and burrows into the grapevine root, then moves through the root, finally establishing a feeding site. The root-knot nematode swells up and becomes immobile, feeding from the grapevine root cells through a hollow mouthpart called a stylet. Susceptible grape roots usually respond to the nematode infection by galling and swelling, creating the namesake root-knot. The galling and swelling of the roots reduces the ability of the roots to take up water and nutrients. Harmful bacteria, fungi, and other organisms may enter the grapevine root through the nematode entry wound and through the cracks that form around the galls. Many root-knot nematode species have a broad host range. They feed on and damage grape as well as many other plants, including both crops and weed species. Management of rootknot nematodes through crop rotation may be challenging due to the many species of plants that are suitable hosts, including alfalfa, common bean, tomato, peach, and watermelon.

Close up of root-knot nematode infected grapevine root, with stained egg masseseach egg mass can have 2000 eggs. In this picture, the nematode egg masses are red. Several of the root-knot nematode species that are important on grapevine lay fertile eggs without mating and can complete their life cycle in as few as 27 days. This demonstrates the enormous potential for nematode populations to increase very rapidly.

courtesy of Marc Fuchs

0.1 mm

The dagger nematode Xiphinema index is the vector of grapevine fanleaf virus, which causes the disease fanleaf degeneration. Xiphinema index is a fairly large nematode which can cause serious damage to grapevine roots on its own (even if it is not vectoring the virus). Xiphinema index is an ectoparasitic nematode, meaning that it feeds from outside the grapevine root. It moves through the soil from grapevine to grapevine, making it an effective vector for grapevine fanleaf virus. Xiphinema index does not have a broad host range; it feeds on grapevine, olive, fig, and a few other plants, but most plant species are not suitable hosts (in contrast to the broad host range of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne species).

Fruit cluster symptoms of fanleaf degeneration, caused by grapevine fanleaf virus. On the left, a cluster from a healthy vine. On the right, a cluster from a vine infected with grapevine fanleaf virus and showing the characteristic decline in berry set associated with fanleaf degeneration disease. Infected vines may show an 80% declinein crop. The grapevine fanleaf virus infects grapevines, but is not naturally found in other crop plants or weeds. The reservoir for the virus is in grapevines, so using virus tested grapevine planting material is recommended. Grapevine fanleaf virus is spread by Xiphinema index dagger nematodes. There are rootstocks that provide protection against the Xiphinema index dagger nematode, so if the nematodes are not carrying the virus, these rootstocks could be suitable. However, resistance to the nematode alone is not sufficient to provide protection against fanleaf degeneration disease. This is because merely the probing of the nematode with its stylet on the grapevine root is sufficient to transmit grapevine fanleaf virus. Presently the only rootstock recommended for protection against both Xiphinema index dagger nematodes and fanleaf degeneration is VR O39-16.

The shoot on the left is from a vine with ringspot decline caused by tomato ringspot virus. The shoot on the right is from a healthy grapevine. Ringspot declines of grapevine are caused by tobacco ringspot virus and tomato ringspot virus. These viruses are spread by Xiphinema americanum and closely related dagger nematode species. The nematodes are ectoparastic (feeding from outside the grapevine root) and just like the Xiphinema index dagger nematode, they move from plant to plant through the soil. In contrast to Xiphinema index, Xiphinema americanum nematodes have a broad host range and feed on many crops and weed species in addition to grapevine. The ringspot viruses also have a broad host range and can be transmitted from other crop plants or weeds to grapevine. Management of ringspot declines and Xiphinema americanum nematodes with rootstocks is not well understood; one study showed that the rootstock 3309C provided protection against infection by tomato ringspot virus while own-rooted vines were infected.

Ringspot decline fruit symptoms. Clusters from healthy vines on the left and from vines with ringspot decline on the right.

A rootstock trial in a root-knot nematode infected vineyard near Fresno shows the value of nematode resistance in rootstocks. The healthy, vigorous vines on either side are grafted o nematode resistant rootstocks, while the weak and missing positions are grafted on susceptible rootstocks. At this location root-knot nematodes are the chief soil pest, as phylloxera is not an issue at this location.

The vineyard pictured above has a vigor problemshoots are growing throughout the season and even the trellis is obscured. When using rootstocks, the rootstock and scion variety should be matched to the management practices and site to reach the desired vine size and vigor. For example, high vigor rootstocks are best suited for lower vigor sites (such as shallow or infertile soils) or for less invigorating management practices (such as deficit irrigation). Nematode resistant rootstocks can be found across a range of vigor induction.

This location, in the southwestern Sacramento Valley of California, is a low vigor site. It is on a hillside, with relatively shallow soil of low fertility. Rainfall at this site is about 18-20 inches annually, but the hillside location is very well drained. The water table is well below the root zone. High vigor rootstocks can be used appropriately at this location.

This location, in the central part of the Napa Valley of California, is a high vigor site. It is a valley floor site, with deep fertile soil. The water table can be as shallow as 5 feet, so vines are rarely water stressed. On this more vigorous sites, less vigorous rootstocks should be used. For example, in this well watered, deep, fertile valley floor soil, 1616C, 101-14 Mgt, and perhaps Schwarzmann would be useful. Both this high vigor site and the previous low vigor site are subject to damage from nematodes.

3309C

Schwarzmann

101-14 Mgt

Rootstocks belong to families, just like people, and the members of rootstock families share similar horticultural characteristics. They are often similar in soil adaptation and vigor induction, although nematode resistance can vary among rootstocks in the same family. Because of shared characteristics within families, often there will be a rootstock with good nematode resistance for a given site. These rootstocks are all members of the V. riparia x V. rupestris familythey have similar horticultural characteristics, although not identical, and all offer durable protection against phylloxera. Their soil adaptation is similar, but they differ in nematode resistance. 3309C is mostly susceptible to nematodes, while Schwarzmann and 101-14 Mgt offer resistance against many nematode populations.

5C

The V. berlandieri x V. riparia family of rootstocks provide durable protection against phylloxera and are well suited to high pH calcareous soils. 5C and 5BB are V. berlandieri x V. riparia rootstocks with good resistance to many nematode populations.

5BB

420A

420A is another member of the V. berlandieri x V. riparia rootstock family. 420A is a low to moderate vigor rootstock and has been shown to reduce pruning weights while maintaining or increasing yield. 420A has been demonstrated to be resistant to Mesocriconema xenoplax, the ring nematode.

110 R

The V. berlandieri x V. rupestris rootstock family members provide excellent protection against phylloxera. The rootstocks in this family include 110R, 140 Ru, and 1103P. Most of the rootstocks in this family are moderately to highly vigorous and several are well adapted to dry hillsides. 1103P has excellent nematode resistance.

1616 Couderc

1616C is a low vigor nematode resistant rootstock. This rootstock tends to decrease vine size.

44 53 M

44-53 Malegue has been reported to provide protection against fanleaf degeneration. However, this is not supported by rootstock trial data. 44-53 M does provide protection against phylloxera.

Freedom

Freedom is a moderately high vigor rootstock, with good resistance to root-knot nematodes and Xiphinema. index dagger nematodes. Although resistant to Xiphinema index dagger nematodes, Freedom does not provide protection against fanleaf degeneration. So far, Freedom has been adequately resistant to phylloxera. However, Freedom has V. vinifera in its background, which may have implications for the long term phylloxera resistance of this rootstock. The closely related rootstock Harmony, although highly resistant to root-knot nematodes, is not resistant to phylloxera and is not recommended for vineyards where phylloxera may be a problem.

Rupestris St. George Riparia Gloire

Riparia Gloire and Rupestris St. George are important rootstocks that have been used successfully for many years to provide protection against phylloxera. Riparia Gloire is a low to moderate vigor rootstock, while Rupestris St. George is a moderate to high vigor rootstock. Although they provide excellent protection against phylloxera, Rupestris St. George and Riparia Gloire are considered susceptible to many nematode populations.

1613 Couderc

AxR#1

Rootstocks of the past

Some rootstocks are no longer recommended and should not be planted because they are susceptible to phylloxera. 1613 C is resistant to many nematode populations. Axr#1 is nematode susceptible. Both are insufficiently resistant to phylloxera. Rootstocks with superior phylloxera protection as well as excellent nematode resistance are available that should be used instead of these and other phylloxera susceptible rootstocks.

Rootstocks of the future

10-17A

10-23B

PC0188-151

New rootstock selections and varieties are under evaluation and development. 1017A and 10-23B are USDA ARS selections that are resistant to a broad range of nematodes, including endoparasites and ectoparasites. PC0188-151 is another nematode resistant USDA ARS selection currently in wine grape rootstock trials. The University of California last year released five new rootstocks with broad nematode resistance; vineyard evaluation will determine the adaptation of new rootstocks to vineyard conditions.

Leafroll disease symptoms on a red wine grape variety. Leafroll disease and other virus diseases reduce grape quality and yield. Always use virus tested planting material, both in grafted and own-rooted vines. Both rootstock and scion should be virus tested plant material.

This is an example of the nematode resistant rootstock Harmony and how it grows differentially when infected with corkybark disease, which is caused by a virus (the picture on the right is the virus infected, diseased plant and the picture on the left is of the healthy plant. Many nematode resistant rootstocks seem to be quite sensitive to virus infected scions. Chose virus tested scion and rootstock plant material for your vineyard to help manage the risk of this problem.

Rootstocks are an economically and environmentally sustainable nematode management practice. Rootstocks can reduce the damage caused by nematode feeding on grapevine roots and provide durable protection against nematodes for the life of the vineyard.