High-throughput small RNA sequencing for evaluation of grapevine sanitation efficacy

This study describes the application of high-throughput sequencing of small RNA analysis of the efficacy of using Ribavirin to eliminate Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1, Grapevine fleck virus and Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus from Vitis vinifera cv. Riesling. The original plant used for sanitation by Ribavirin treatment was one naturally infected with all the viruses mentioned above as confirmed by RT-PCR. A tissue cultures of the plant were established and plantlets obtained were sanitized using Ribavirin. Three years after sanitation, a small RNA sequencing method for virus detection, targeting 21, 22 and 24 nt-long viral small RNAs (vsRNAs), was used to analyze both the mother plant and the sanitized plants. The results showed that the mother plant was infected by the three mentioned viruses and additionally by two viroids - Hop stunt viroid and Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1. After Ribavirin treatment, the plants contained only the two viroids, with the complete elimination of all the viruses previously present.