Application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to disease diagnosis is limited in part by the presence of PCR inhibitors. Inhibition can be overcome and sensitivity increased by culturing bacteria on agar media prior to PCR (termed BIO-PCR). However, Xylella fastidiosa grows slowly, requiring 10–14 days for visible colonies to appear. In this study an agarabsorption BIO-PCR method for detec...

The critical zone is defined as the life-sustaining region on and near Earth’s surface that is affected by the interaction of geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and atmospheric processes. Investigations into critical zone processes are needed to reveal how weathering transforms minerals, organic matter, solutions and gases to sustain life. Like all organisms, the health and character of grape vine...

The Iberian viticultural regions are convened according to the Denomination of Origin (DO) and present different climates, soils, topography and management practices. All these elements influence the vegetative growth of different varieties throughout the peninsula, and are tied to grape quality and wine type. In the current study, an integrated analysis of climate, soil, topography and vegetat...

Across plants, leaves exhibit profound diversity in shape. As a single leaf expands, its shape is in constant flux. Plants may also produce leaves with different shapes at successive nodes. In addition, leaf shape varies among individuals, populations and species as a result of evolutionary processes and environmental influences. Because leaf shape can vary in many different ways, theoretically...

Cadophora luteo-olivacea is a lesser-known fungal trunk pathogen of grapevine which has been recently isolated from vines showing decline symptoms in grape growing regions worldwide. In this study, 80 C. luteo-olivacea isolates (65 from Spain and 15 from South Africa) were studied. Inter-simple-sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) generated 55 polymorphic loci from four ISSR pri...

The vast majority of wine proteins have recently been identified as pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. During the growing season, these proteins are expressed in developmentally dependent and inducible manners in grapevine leaves and grape berries, in which they are believed to play an important role in protection against fungal pathogens and possibly other stresses. Because of their inherent ...

After mechanical harvesting of 'Concord' grapes was totally implemented, the most time-consuming vineyard operation in Arkansas became pruning. Grape producers complain of decreasing availability of qualified labor for pruning and tieing, and feel that pruning should be the next operation mechanized. Single and double curtain vines were established in a 14-year-old vineyard at the Main Station,...

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, has caused significant damage to vineyards in the valley of São Francisco River Brazil. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma is one most abundant species predatory mites on vines this region. This study evaluated population growth rates T. leaves two grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars (‘Italia’ and ‘Superior Seedless’) jack bean [Canavalia ens...