NGS technology at CNR-IPSP: from de novo virus discovery to the sanitary status of plants for planting

NGS was welcomed as a "gold rush" at CNR-IPSP for the detection of virus and virus-like diseases of Mediterranean woody and horticultural crops, particularly grapevine, citrus, stone fruits and also minor fruits (quince, mulberry, fig). A major input to the adoption of this techniques relied on the propagation practices of particularly woody species, which multiply infections and spread viruses and viroids. The Institute now possesses skilled personnel and hardware facilities able to perform current NGS protocols in Plant Virology and to respond to a continuously evolving technology. Technologies followed the achievements on RNA silencing for the analysis of small RNA libraries as well as addressed mRNAs- and double stranded RNA-based libraries. Results of the last nine-year activities consisting in the discovery of several new viruses and the use of NGS data in the description of plant-virus/viroids interactions will be presented, coming to the recent application of the technology on commercial grapevine cultivars. The advantages of using NGS technology in the production of certified plant propagation material and the proposal of a future "vine metagenome passport" accompanying mother plants in commercial exchanges will be discussed.