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FEBRUARY NEWS PD-Resistant Vines Available in 2015? Pierce's Disease Symposium highlights research, progress and new tools S acramento, Calif.—The first commercially available Pierce's Disease (PD)-resistant wine grape cultivars could be released by the University of California, Davis, Foundation Plant Services (FPS) for propagation by commercial nurseries as early as 2015. These PD-resistant grapevines are the result of research funded through the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) Board. The anticipated 2015 release was announced in late December at CDFA's Pierce's Disease Research Symposium, an annual forum attended by researchers from throughout the United States to discuss progress and exchange information. After 10 years of research, breeding and field testing of PD-resistant grapevines, UC Davis viticulture professor and grape breeder Dr. Andy Walker turned over the first 15 PD-resistant cultivars and rootstocks to FPS in 2013 to begin the testing and certification process for eventual release to in Mexico. Wine grape varieties of Vitis vinifera are traditionally bred with V. arizonica over five generations of crosses to progressively increase the percentage of vinifera genes and characteristics. The cultivars now at FPS include three rootstocks with the resistance gene; multiple selections of Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah; a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon and crosses of Cabernet Sauvignon x Carignane. These cultivars include 94% UC Davis researchers (from left) Andy vinifera and 97% vinifera. Walker and David Gilchrist, and biotechnolIn California's North Coast, where the ogy business consultant Peter Matlock preblue-green sharpshooter vectors PD into sented information about PD-resistant vines. vines adjacent to riparian areas, PD-resistant vines could be planted as buffers in suscepcommercial nurseries and grapegrowers. tible locations to produce grapes for blending Walker has been collecting and testing into wines produced from 100% vinifera. native American Vitis specimens for PD resisThe cultivars could also be effective in Southtance with a focus on Vitis arizonica, a grape ern California vineyards, where GWSS popuspecies native to the southwestern United lations are established, and in vineyards States and Mexico. Walker's lab identified a adjacent to citrus orchards that harbor gene with strong PD resistance (PdR1) from GWSS populations. AlainFouquet_Aug06 5/17/06 10:57 AM Page 1 Vitis arizonica/candicans, a sub-species found —Jon Tourney Providing leading wine makers with stainless steel barrels of high quality, durability, and design. www.alainfouquet.com alainfouquet@aol.com phone: 773.735.0700 • toll free: 800.441.8780 www.skolnikwine.com • email: sales@skolnik.com Win es & Vin es F EB Rua ry 20 14 19