Powdery Mildew of Grapevine
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) is the most economically important pathogen of grapevine. The chemical control of this disease is an increasingly pressing problem in viticulture. It is now clear that sustainable control of powdery can only be achieved by harnessing the innate ability of resistant grapevines to defend themselves against the disease. Laszlo Kovacs’ research focuses on the biological basis resistance to E. necator in grapevine. To better understand resistance, questions of powdery mildew susceptibility are also addressed. The work involves phytopathological, genetic, and genomic approaches, and is highly collaborative, involving other faculty members for Missouri State University and scientists from other institutions.

 

 

        

 

 

Grape Polyphenols
Grapes and red wine are among the richest dietary sources of polyphenolic secondary metabolites. Proanthocyanidins, the most abundant biologically active class of grape-derived polyphenols, are thought to confer health benefits by modulating the inflammatory response in mammalian cells. Laszlo Kovacs is interested in the accumulation of the various types of proanthocyanidins during berry development and their ability to modulate inflammation-related stress response in mammalian systems. During antiquity and the middle ages, various types of grapevine tissues have been used in human and veterinary medicine. Today, however, only grapes or products derived or left over from grape berries receive scientific attention as sources of beneficial polyphenolic metabolites. Current research efforts address the question if extracts of from grape tissues other than ripe berries have anti-inflammatory effects or other health benefits in humans and animals.