Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/155925
SOILCOHEN & CELLAR REMI URGENT NEED Requires Patience 2010 Protocol clean rootstock is still a few years away he future of the wine industry depends on the availability of clean, quality plant material. This availability is being challenged by high demand, newly discovered viruses, virus vectors, and other pests and diseases. These challenges are being addressed in the industry by way of increased funding, research, nursery investment, and, one hopes, a continued and collaborative approach to mitigating these concerns. The Farm Bill of 2008 established and provided $20 million in funding over four years for the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). The goal of the Department of Agriculture's NCPN program is to provide clean plant material for specialty crops, including wine grapes. In order to meet the new quality standards set forth by the NCPN, Foundation Plant Services (FPS) has established a new foundation vineyard on part of its 100-acre parcel of virgin ground set aside for FPS at UC Davis' Russell Ranch research plot. All selections planted in this new vineyard will have been propagated according to what is referred to as the 2010 Protocol, through microshoot tip tissue culture, and therefore should be free of known and unknown viruses, as well as free of the bacteria that cause crown gall disease. In 2011, after building the required infrastructure, the first vines went into the ground: 5-12 plants from 19 different rootstock selections, and shortly thereafter, 2-10 vines of 350 different scion selections. This material will be used for expansion, and eventually commercial budwood. Additional plants were added in 2012: 540 scion vines representing 211 selections, and 50 vines of rootstock representing 15 new selections. It takes years for + High demand, newly discovthis material to be available ered viruses, virus vectors, to nurseries, and the first and other pests and diseasbudwood is anticipated to es challenge the availability AT A GLANCE of clean plant material. + FPS has established a new foundation vineyard at UC Davis' Russell Ranch. + Although plant material may be clean when planted in an increase block, there are insect and nematode vectors that spread viruses. + Nurseries are testing their existing increase blocks for viruses, and are starting to plant Protocol 2010 material. + By ordering early, growers will be able to inspect and test the material before planting. Foundation Plant Services has established a new foundation vineyard at UC Davis' Russell Ranch research plot. Photo: S.T. Sim w w w. v w m media.com S e p t - O c t 2 0 13 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 31