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Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
AGRE-0060: Biotechnology application aiming at the production of healthy propagation material and industrial utilisation of certain aromatic plants |
AGRE-0060: Biotechnology application aiming at the production of healthy propagation material and industrial utilisation of certain aromatic plants
Science Background
In the Mediterranean region, viral diseases are a problem to the viticulture and fruit industries. Accurate identification of the causative agents is an important step in producing disease-free material for commercial production of fruit. Planting material may vary genetically, being distinguished as species, varieties or clones. The use of selected disease-free productive clones of a known variety of a given species can optimize production, thus increasing profitability. A wide range of analytical techniques have evolved as a result of the development of knowledge in molecular biology (biotechnology). These include methods for separation and identification of proteins (enzymes), antibodies or nucleic acids, characteristic of a given clone or causative disease agent. Other developments in plant biotechnology include the use of tissue culture to generate large numbers of similar plantlets that can be cultivated. A combination of the above techniques could result in production of healthy propagation material. Many Mediterranean plants are adapted to the typical environmental conditions through production of aromatic essential oils. These may be screened for biological activity offering possibilities as biological control of disease agents.
Objectives
To develop methods for identification of viruses (grapevine fanleaf virus – GFLV, grapevine virus A – GVA, arabic mosaic virus – AMV, grapevine leaf roll associated virus I and II – GLRaV I and II, raspberry ringspot virus cherry strain and grapevine – RRV-ch and RRV-g). To use these methods enable mass production of certified, healthy plant propagation material for grapevine rootstocks and cultivars, as well as fruit tree varieties. In addition, a number of aromatic plants, mainly of Greek origin, were to be investigated. Essential oils from these plants were to be examined for potential use in industrial applications, such as control of viruses, microbes and insects.
Significant changes and results since end of ECLAIR
This project enabled Vitro Hellas S.A., the coordinators, to increase their market share to become possibly the leading supplier in Greece. They can rapidly produce large numbers of virus-free plants of identical genotype under controlled conditions in their plant tissue culture laboratory. Products include roots stocks of peaches, cherries, prunes, apricots, apples, pears and grapevines; rooted cultivars of pears and peaches; kiwi fruit, strawberries, ornamentals and forest trees. They also produce fruit trees, ornamentals and forest trees in their nurseries. The company continues to collaborate with partners and others in related research.
Results
At end of this ECLAIR project
Electrophoretic methods were established to identify and distinguish species, cultivars and clones of fruit trees (pome and Prunus) and grapevines (Vitis vinifera) on the basis of their separated isoenzymes. ELISA tests were used to show that 33 cultivars or clones of grapevine were heavily infected with viruses. A new method of in vitro thermotherapy was developed and combined with meristem culture to eliminate viruses from all the cultivars. Six orange and four lemon cultivars had been investigated for the presence of psorosis virus and shoot-tip grafting used as an elimination method to finally generate 54 viable grafted plants. Micropropagation protocols were developed for grapevine root stocks and some fruit tree cultivars. Virus incidence in apple, peach and almond trees was investigated and sanitation measures, through eradication of infected trees, were established. An immunocapture-polymerase chain reaction (IC-PCR) technique was established for identification of various fruit viruses increasing the sensitivity of detection by 100 - 1000 times. A dot blot hybridization assay using digoxigenin-labelled cRNA probes was also developed for fruit viruses, enabling variations in major groups of isolates to be detected.
Oils from a number of aromatic plants were found to be effective as insecticides, however some of these (Mentha spicata, the carvone chemotype, and M. pulegium) has adverse properties (mutagenic, etc.) that made them unsuitable for use in food or cosmetic applications. The oils of Satureja thymbra and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum were found effective as insecticides and could be safely used in food and pharmaceuticals. Carvone and cavacrol were shown to have promising use in preventing sprouting in stored potatoes.
Current position
The original coordinator of this project is no longer R&D officer at Vitro Hellas S.A., but can be contacted at Vardates Agricultural Research Station. Vitro Hellas has applied the protocols for micropropagation and virus elimination, as well as methods for virus detection, to form an integrated production system for certified propagated plant material.
Impact
Commercial
Vitro Hellas S.A., the coordinator of this project, is a plant propagation material company established in 1986. Its current activities comprise R&D, production (laboratory, greenhouses, nurseries) and marketing. A significant investment has been made in the use of tissue culture to rapidly produce large numbers of virus-free plants of identical genotype under controlled conditions. The project enabled Vitro Hellas to commercialize the varieties and clones of grapevines and other fruits that had been tested and propagated using in vitro methods. The new production protocols have enabled the company to sell thousands of certified plants. This has significantly increased profitability, as well as enabling the company to be more competitive in the plant nursery industry, possibly now the leading supplier in Greece. The wine and fruit industries will have had associated benefits from the availability of disease-free stock in an area where historically viruses have been endemic.
Associated
The project also enabled Vitro Hellas to develop a continuing relationship with the universities and research centres, increasing their know-how and technology base. They continue to cooperate with various research departments and state institutions in Greece and overseas. Results from this project led to selection of aromatic plants of potential value that have been utilized in new projects in Greece. Vitro Hellas have been involved in a CAMAR project: Clonal propagation of forest plant varieties adapted to marginal soils in Mediterranean regions. In addition, two FAIR projects involving other researchers are investigating use of carvone ( 0722) and terpenes ( 1781) for biological control.
Contacts
Author
NAGREF
Vitro Hellas S.A.
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