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SA making strides in leafroll virus management
Through focused research, trial sites and a formalised Leafroll Control Protocol, the South African wine industry has made great strides to halt the spread of leafroll virus which poses a major threat to wine grape producers as it can shorten the lifespan of vineyards and deteriorate grape and wine quality.
L to R: Suzaan Potgieter (Die Burger Landbou), Lisa Lottering (Landbouweekblad), Sheryl Faure (Wine.co.za), Hugo Lochner (FarmBiz), Anel Andrag (Winetech), Prof Gerhard Pietersen (University of Pretoria and the ARC Pretoria), JC Martin (owner Creation Wines), Nico Spreeth (Vititec), Conrad Schutte (VinPro) and Reinier Louw (Vititec)
VinPro, in collaboration with Vititec, Winetech and Creation Wines, recently hosted a tour of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to demonstrate the progress being made to combat the leafroll virus. Vititec collaborates with several wine grape producers in various wine grape-producing regions with the aim to create leafroll virus-free vineyards. The situation in South Africa has improved vastly over the past 20 years, Vititec CEO Nico Spreeth says. “With all the processes we have in place, we’ve seen a drastic decline in contamination in vineyards – as low as 0.4%.”
Keeping vineyards clean
Creation Wines meticulously considered soil, climate and aspect for its first plantings and, in consultation with Vititec, had the foresight to plant only virus-free clones. Creation Wines owner Jean-Claude (JC) Martin says there are no virus-infected plants on the farm. “Vititec inspects our vineyards two to three times a year. If there are any signs of infection, the leaves are sent for analysis. Up until now, we’ve managed to keep our vineyards clean.”
Winetech, the wine industry body that allocates statutory funding for grape and wine research, has over the past 17 years granted about R20 million for research across multiple disciplines that generated a holistic leafroll protocol.
South African Leafroll Control Protocol
“This was made possible because we’re fortunate enough to have Professor Gerhard Pietersen on board,” Winetech manager Anel Andrag says. “He’s a plant virologist from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and one of the leading researchers on leafroll control in South Africa.”
The South African Leafroll Control Protocol was developed by Pietersen with the help of South African producers and researchers. Its effectiveness and practicality also caught the attention of international wine grape producers in countries such as New Zealand that now apply this protocol with great success. “Efforts to refine the research are ongoing and the uptake of the research findings is a key strategy going forward,” Andrag says.
During the visit to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, industry experts said the implementation of the protocol would be advantageous for primary wine grape producers. They also highlighted the research from Michigan State University that quantifies the decline in yield of infected vines. “Although the uptake of this protocol has been slow among South African producers, applying it will provide them with a competitive advantage and improve the sustainability of the entire value chain,” VinPro viticulturist Conrad Schutte says.
To download the South African Leafroll Control Protocol go to IGWS or call VinPro Consultation Service on 021 276 0429.
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