Performance of Georgian Grapevine Varieties in a Vineyard Infected by Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma in Piedmont, Northwestern Italy

Letizia Portaccio, Maria Alessandra Paissoni, Simone Giacosa, Alessandro Passera, Camilla Barbieri, David Maghradze, Luca Rolle, Vincenzo Gerbi, Osvaldo Failla, Piero Attilio Bianco and Fabio Quaglino ()
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Letizia Portaccio: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Maria Alessandra Paissoni: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 12051 Alba, Italy
Simone Giacosa: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 12051 Alba, Italy
Alessandro Passera: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Camilla Barbieri: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
David Maghradze: LEPL National Wine Agency, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia
Luca Rolle: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 12051 Alba, Italy
Vincenzo Gerbi: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 12051 Alba, Italy
Osvaldo Failla: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Piero Attilio Bianco: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Fabio Quaglino: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-27

Abstract: In Europe, Flavescence dorée (FD), the only epidemic disease within the phytoplasma-associated grapevine yellows complex (GY), reduces productivity and has a negative impact on berry composition and wine quality. Recent studies have shown that Georgian Vitis vinifera L. varieties have low susceptibility to Bois noir (BN), another GY disease. This study investigated the performance of some Georgian grapevine varieties in a highly FD-affected area in Piedmont (northwestern Italy), exploring their susceptibility to FD and testing their oenological potential through berry and wine quality analyses. Activities, conducted in a case-study vineyard containing central–western European, Georgian, and PIWI (fungus-resistant grape varieties) varieties, included field surveys and molecular analyses. Mortality and infection percentage index were significantly higher in Georgian and central–western European varieties, respectively. All Georgian varieties exhibited none or mild symptoms without a reduction in the number of symptomless berries. Only the FD phytoplasma (FDp) genotype M54 was identified in infected grapevines, suggesting that differences in symptom severity were related to a variety-specific response to infection. Despite infection, Georgian varieties maintained stable berry and wine quality parameters, showing no significant changes in acidity, sugar content, and flavor profile. Thus, Georgian varieties had great oenological potential and responded well to both FDp infection and local agroecosystem conditions.

Keywords: grapevine yellows; oenological potential; map gene (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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