Research & Development

Linnaeus is committed to continually improving the integrity of New Zealand's viticultural plant material. One of the key strengths of the laboratory is its ability to develop cost-effective industry applications based on original, leading-edge scientific research. In conjunction with Riversun, the laboratory has initiated a range of large-scale research projects to improve the industry's knowledge of:

• Serious fungal diseases of grapevines including
  • Botryosphaeria fungi (various wood-rots)
  • Cylindrocarpon species (Blackfoot disease)
  • Phaeomoniella and related fungi (Black goo)
  
  
• Control of fungal diseases including
  • Understanding the role of Trichoderma in grapevine production
  • Ozone treatment for the storage of propagation material
  • Control of pathogens in storage facilities and field nurseries for grapevine propagation material
  
  
• Virus diseases of grapevines, including
  • Virus detection and screening techniques
  • Graft incompatibility disorders and Vine Decline syndromes
  • The spread of Grapevine Leafroll Viruses in New Zealand
  • The effects of grapevine viruses upon wine quality in New Zealand