First record of three grapevine viruses in the Chinese province of Sinkiang.

ABSTRACT: In the course of a survey for virus diseases of grapevines conducted in May 2004 in Sinkiang (Xinjiang), China, commercial vineyards were visited in the areas of Manasi and Shihezi (western wine grapes of recent introduction) and Turpan (table grapes introduced in the country for more than 1000 years ago). A total of 56 samples were collected and total nucleic extracts were analysed for the presence of viruses using PCR first with degenerate primers for vitiviruses and foveaviruses, and then with primers specific for grapevine virus A (GVA), grapevine virus B (GVB), grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) or for grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). GVA was identified in 18 samples, GVB in 24, GRSPaV in 25 and GLRaV-3 in 2. Interestingly, GVA, GVB and GRSPaV were also detected at Turpan, an area where the local cultivars have been vegetatively multiplied for centuries in the absence of foreign germplasm.