New approach of electrotherapy for grapevine virus elimination

Electrotherapy in a horizontal electrophoresis tank was applied to remove single and mixed virus infections in grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.). Electric stimulation of grapevine herbaceous cuttings with electric current of 40-100 mA, for 5-20 min treatment time was followed by in vitro regeneration of new plants. ELISA negative grapevines were obtained in different percentages, depending on the virus infection type and experimental parameters. While the Grapevine fleck virus was removed up to 100%, Grapevine fanleaf virus-free plants were obtained between 44 and 50%, and the lowest virus elimination rate of 25-30% was registered for Grapevine leafroll associated virus type 1. The complex consisting of Grapevine fleck virus and Grapevine virus A was eliminated in 50% of recovered plants.