New Video Series Demystifies Clean Grapevine Material and Certification
- Lauren Port
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
NEW RESOURCE RELEASE
Supported by NCPN-Grapes funding, this four-part educational series by the Pennsylvania State University provides vital insights for growers on managing economically relevant viruses.
The National Clean Plant Network for Grapes (NCPN-Grapes) is excited to announce the release of a new, four-part educational video series. Produced by Penn State Extension with support from NCPN-Grapes, the series is designed to help grape growers, nursery managers, and industry stakeholders understand the critical processes behind clean plant production, grapevine certification, and virus disease management.
Establishing a vineyard requires a significant long-term financial investment. Introducing destructive viruses like grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 or grapevine red blotch virus can drastically reduce vineyard profitability and vine longevity. This new series of short videos breaks down the science and nuance of clean plant centers, explaining how growers can protect their investments from the ground up by utilizing certified planting material.
The complete four-part series is now available to stream for free. Explore the videos below to learn more.
Explore the Video Series
1. How Do Clean Plant Centers Produce Clean Grapevine Stock?
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a clean plant center? Featuring appearances by the team at Foundation Plant Services (FPS), this video takes you inside the lab and the vineyard. Learn about the rigorous processes of propagation, testing, and therapy required to produce clean grapevine stock.
2. What is a Clean Grapevine?
Shopping for "clean" grapevines comes with some important nuances. A clean grapevine is tested and found free of specific, harmful pathogens—but it doesn't mean it is free of all microorganisms, which would be an impossible and cost-prohibitive standard. In this video, Dr. Marc Fuchs explains what certification truly means and what viruses of concern are targeted.
Watch here: What is a Clean Grapevine?
3. Why Grapevine Certification Matters
Starting a new vineyard venture without compromising on vine health is essential for long-term success. Dr. Cain Hickey of Penn State details why grapevine certification is a grower's best defense against profit-stripping viruses. Discover how certification programs protect G1 foundation and nursery blocks by keeping major viruses out.
Watch here: Why Grapevine Certification Matters
4. Why Some Grapevine Diseases Aren’t Tested
Testing grapevines requires immense resources: time, money, and highly skilled workers. Because of this, certification programs focus strictly on "Economically Relevant Viruses"—pathogens that cause severe harm to vine health and production. In the final video of the series, Dr. Marc Fuchs discusses this targeted approach and answers a frequently asked industry question: Why don't certification programs test for crown gall?
Watch here: Why Some Grapevine Diseases Aren’t Tested
About the Collaborators
The National Clean Plant Network for Grapes (NCPN-Grapes) protects U.S. grapevines from economically damaging viruses by supporting the production of clean plant material.
Penn State Extension is a dedicated educational network that delivers science-based information to help individuals, businesses, and communities solve problems and prosper.
For more information about the National Clean Plant Network, please visit https://www.nationalcleanplantnetwork.org/.
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