Metaviromic analysis of a Vitis cultivar collection in South Africa

A total of 229 samples of various Vitis species and various cultivars of Vitis vinifera were collected from a cultivar collection at the Agricultural Research Council - Nietvoorbij campus in Stellenbosch, South Africa. These cultivars represent many of the wine and table grape cultivars typically grown in the country, as well as those that have regional importance in other parts of the world, particularly Europe. Total RNA was isolated and RNAtag-seq was performed using the workflow described by Shishkin et al (2015). This project will provide insight into the various grapevine associated viruses present within the South African wine and table grape industries. In addition to this it will provide insights into the way in which various cultivars select for and shape the viral populations associated with them.