 History
1986
- Creation of a laboratory part of SA Mercier France Phytonique.
Of in vitro propagation of 190 m² and 9600 m²
of glass greenhouses on the Sebrandière site.
1987
- Beginning of ELISA testing on grapevine to detect fanleaf
(ArMV and GF1V) and leafroll (GLRaV-1 and -3) viruses.
1989
- Mercier France Phytonique disappears; the lab and the greenhouses
form a part of Uniagri Mercier Frères. The activity is
mainly refocused on grapevine.
1996
- Official approval by the ONIVINS
of the validity of ELISA testing made in the laboratory and
participation to tests in the frame of National Program against
viruses.
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2001
- Uniagri Mercier becomes Mercier
Frères.
2003
- PCR testing for detection of diverse grapevine pathogens.
2004
- Confirmation of the official approval by the ONIVINS
by the signature of a convention.
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2005
- Moving to a new site of 450 m2 of laboratory and 150 m2 of
workshop with 500 m2 of insect-proof glass greenhouse in Le
Gué de Velluire. The Laboratory becomes SARL Mercier
Novatech.
Skills
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The
lab is equipped to make :
-
ELISA diagnosis
- PCR testing
- Preparation of rhizogen solution
- Clonal
and sanitary selection
- In vitro culture (meristem culture and
vegetative propagation)
- Biological control trials
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Staff
:
4
engineers are employed in the laboratory. In case of growing
activity, there is a participation of seasonal employees.
Equipment
:
- Cellular
biology: two culture rooms, horizontal laminar air flow
hood, binocular magnifiers, autoclave, dispenser of culture
medium, pH meter, microscope, hot air sterilizer.
- Sample preparation: scales, toggle lever press, ball mills,
cold room.
- DNA extraction: fume cupboard, water bath, refrigerated
centrifuge.
- ELISA testing: incubator, ELISA reader.
- Molecular biology: thermal cycler, electrophoresis tanks,
UV light, camera and software Biocapt.
Formation
:
Reception
and supervising of trainees (high schoolers to engineers).
ELISA
Testing
At
the laboratory, the viruses detected by the ELISA technique
are :
-
Leafroll viruses (GLRaV-1, -2 and -3)
- Fanleaf viruses (ArMV and GFlV).
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ELISA
(Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) testing is a serological
method of pathogen detection. It is based on the recognition
of the viral coat proteins by specific antibodies. A second
clutch of antibodies linked to an enzyme allows visualizing
the virus presence or absence thanks to a yellow coloration
of the sample when enzyme substrate is added.
Mother vines serving to produce the plants of the nursery
are tested at the laboratory (self-supervision). As part of
the mother vines self-supervision, the ELISA activity is led
up to develop. The laboratory is involved in an approach to
obtain the accreditation COFRAC
within 2007.
Principle
of ELISA technique (Format PDF)
| Grinding
of the samples
|
ELISA
microtitration plate
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PCR
Testing
PCR tests
are made to detect phytoplasmas - such as the one causing
Bois noir – and Agrobacterium vitis, responsible for
crown gall. These tests are performed on symptomatic plants.
PCR
or Polymerase Chain Reaction is based on molecular biology.
It involves the selective and exponential amplification of
a fragment of the pathogen’s genome (DNA or RNA for
the viruses) present in low quantity in the plant. This amplification
is done thanks to a DNA polymerase enzyme and to specific
primers, complementary to the two ends of the region to be
copied. UV illumination enables the visualization after migration
on an electrophoresis gel.
| Thermal
cycler for PCR testing
|
Electrophoresis
gel of PCR amplicons
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Cellular
Biology
| The
regeneration by meristem culture enables to obtain disease-freed
plants that can be conserved by vegetative in vitro micropropagation.
Thereafter, these plants are acclimated in greenhouse
on site and then in the vineyards. |
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Culture
room
|
Grapevine
meristem regeneration
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In
vitro cultured vine plants
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Sanitary
and clonal selection
Nowadays,
the diversity of the varieties cultivated in France and throughout
the world has been considerably reduced to the benefit of some
varieties of good reputation. To limit this phenomenon of “genetic
erosion”, genetic selection consists in seeking in the
oldest plots, 35 to 40 years old minimum, the vines with characteristics
meeting the needs of the grapegrowers. Then, these vines are
tested to detect fanleaf and leafroll viruses before being planted
in an experimental plot. There, their agronomic and oenological
characteristics are evaluated by state-of-the-art statistical
methods. Wood of the best vines will be multiplied next and
proposed to grapegrowers.
2006
selection program :
•
Chenin : plantation in Savennières
(Maine et Loire) of an experimental plot after 2 years of
prospection in the Val de Loire (Layon, Chaumes, Bonnezeaux,
Savennières, Vouvray…). The main criterions of
selection relate to the size of clusters and berries, sensitivity
to noble rot, fertility…
•
Grenache : after
for a 2 years prospection in old vineyards in Italy (Sardaigne),
Spain (Zaragoza and Toledo) and France (Vaucluse), an experimental
plot is going to be planted with the Cooperative of Valréas
(Vaucluse). 25 new clones of Grenache will be compared in
order to select the vines with a good polyphenolic maturity
without excessive alcohol potential.
•
Carmenère : plantation
in Moulis, Médoc (Gironde) of a pre-multiplication
plot of 17 clones selected in collaboration with several Châteaux
of Bordeaux. «See
the report of the experiment in French»
•
Petit-Verdot : the first vinifications of
our collection were performed in 2005. The tasting will be
done this spring. 6 new clones are significantly differentiated
themselves from the others. «See
the report of the experiment in French»
•
Cabernet-Sauvignon : first
scoring of the Cabernet Sauvignon clones regenerated by meristem
culture in our lab from the clones 191, 337 and 341, currently
infected by leafroll 2. This experiment will enable us to
propagate clones free from the main grapevine viruses.
•
Massal selections : On demand of our customers,
several massal selections are in process on demand of our
clients. They relate to forgotten varieties such as Grolleau
in Amboise, Tressalier (or Sacy) in Saint Pourçain,
Petite Arvine, Humagne blanche and noire, Chasselas or Cornalin
in Switzerland.
If
you wish to save and propagate the best vines of your old
parcels, do not hesitate to contact us. All of our massal
selections are beforehand tested for the viruses of fanleaf
and leafroll 1, 2 and 3.
Contact
: for information on massal or clonal selections,
contact Thomas Dormegnies, Selection manager. Phone : 00 33
6 70 12 57 71 or e-mail : dormegnies@yahoo.fr
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