Stoyanka (Tania) V. Krastanova
Research Associate

Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology
New York State Agriculture Experiment Station
Geneva, NY 14456

Ph.D.  1986 Plant Genetics, Academy of Agricultural Science, Sofia, Bulgaria

M.S.  1974 Viticulture & Enology, University of Agriculture, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

E-mail: svk2@cornell.edu
Telephone:  315-787-2351 (office)

Host: Marc Fuchs

Grapevine is a major fruit crop worldwide.  Production can be threatened by a number of pathogens, including viruses and virus-like diseases, which reduce yield, affect quality, delay ripening, change wine aromatic profiles, and limit the lifespan of vineyards.  The ability to develop new grapevine cultivars by conventional breeding, in particular for disease resistance, is limited by heterozygosity, polygenic inheritance of many characters, a long juvenile period and lack of resistance sources in Vitis spp.  Genetic transformation is a potentially important tool to improve disease resistance in grapevines without changing the identity of cultivars.  A major objective of my research is to develop virus-resistant transgenic grapevines through the application of the concept of pathogen-derived resistance where a viral gene is transferred into the host to induce resistance.

Awards and Honors

United States Patent No. 6,667,426, date: 12.23.2003. Grapevine fanleaf virus resistance in grapevine expressing grapevine fanleaf virus coat protein.

Certificate Number 1, date 04.30.1996, Agricultural Academy of Sofia. Technology for production of raisins from seedless cultivars.

Certificate Number 2, date 04.30. 1996, Agricultural Academy of Sofia. Technology for production of virus free grapevines by in vitro culture.

Patent Number 38010, date 06.21.1984, Sofia. Improvement of Pamid vine plant through clonal and phytosanitary selection. Results; Grape clone Pamid 2 for wine preparation.

Patent Number 36066, date 06.16.1983, Sofia. Improvement of Pamid vine plant through clonal and phytosanitary selection. Results; Table grape partially resistant to powdery mildew, clone Pamid 1.

Refereed Journal Articles

Spielmann, A,. Krastanova, S., Douet-Orhant, V., Gugerli, P. 2000.  Analysis of transgenic grapevine Vitis rupestris and  Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing an Arabis mosaic virus coat protein gene. Plant Science, 156: 235-244.

Xue, B., Ling, K., Reid, S., Krastanova, S., Sekiya, M., Momol, E., Sule, S., Mozsar, J., Gonsalves, D., Burr, T. 1999. Transformation of five grape rootstocks with plant virus genes and a vir- E2 gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.-Plant, 35: 226-231.

Krastanova, S., Perrin, M., Barbier, P., Demangeat, G., Cornuet, P., Bardonnet, N., Otten, L., Walter, B. 1995.  Transformation of grapevine rootstocks with the coat protein gene of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus. Plant Cell Reports, 14: 550-554.

Pandeliev, S., Tzvetkov, J., Krastanova, S. 1995.  Possibility of reducing the adaptation period of wine plants by in vitro techniques.  Biotechnology, Bulgaria. 7-8: 101-106.

Pandeliev, S., Tsvetkov, I., Krastanova, S. 1995. Possibilities for shortening the adaptation period of in vitro cultivated vines. Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia 32: 214 –216.

Krastanova, S., Yankulova, M. 1992. ELISA detection of grapevine leafroll virus  (GLRV).  Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia. 29: 90-94. 

Krastanova, S., Ganeva, D., Yankulova, M. 1992. Possibilities for whole - year ELISA testing of viruses in grapevines. Pastenievudni Nauki, Sofia. 29: 95-101.

Tzvetcov, J., Krastanova, S. 1991. Chrysanthemum obtained in vitro in greenhouse cultivation.  Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia, 28: 63-67.

Krastanova, S., Bouquet, A., Dollet, E. 1991. Production of somatique embryos and whole plants by in vitro anther culture of Vitis vinifera. Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia, 2: 83 - 87.

Krastanova, S., Zagorska, N., Doytchinova, M. 1990. Induced callus genesis and regeneration of whole plants under in vitro conditions with Pamid cultivar. Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia, 27: 84 – 86.

Kovatchev, V., Pondev, K., Krastanova, S., Tzvetkov, J. 1990.  The resistance to cold of Pamid grapevine. Lozarstvo I Vinarstvo, 9: 24-27.

Krastanova, S. 1990.  Application of new biotechnological methods to viticulture.  Lozarstvo i Vinarstvo, 9: 8-10.

Tcholeva, B., Kovatchev, V., Krastanova, S. 1990.  Use of product Videit L. against the nematodes of vine. Lozarstvo i Vinarstvo, 3-6: 44-50.

Tzvetcov, J., Krastanova, S.  1991. Adaptation of Chrysanthemum obtained on different substrates. Rastenievudni Nauki, 3-6: 44-50.

Krastanova, S., Tzvetkov, J., Nentcheva, D. 1990.  Use of in vitro methods of rapidly reproducing Chrysanthemum.  Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia, 27: 52-54.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S., Mehandjiev, A. 1990.  Vine improvement through experimental mutagenesis. Genetika I Selektsiia, 11:87-93.

Pandeliev, S., Krastanova, S., Kovatchev, V. 1989.  Quality of raisins produced by different methods. Khranitelna-Promishlenost. 38: 29-32.

Krastanova, S. 1989.  Anatomomical berry skin structures of the Pamid cherven and Pamid cheren clones. Lozarstvo i Vinarstvo, Sofia, 3: 30-32. 

Pandeliev, S., Krastanova, S., Kovatchev, V., Atanassov, A., Yankoulova, M., Dorossiev, L., Rousseva, R. 1989.  Virus free planting materials by means of tissue culture. Lozarstvo i Vinarstvo, Sofia, 37: 4-7.

Abracheva, P., Dimitrova, V., Kandeva, R., Krastanova, S. 1988.  Possibility to obtain grapevine plants free from viruses. Lozarstvo i Vinarstvo, 6: 8-12.

Pandeliev, S., Kovatchev, V., Stancheva, L., Krastanova, S. 1988.  Techniques for the production of dried grapes. Rastenievudni Nauki, 27:52-54.  

Krastanova. S. 1988.  Grapevine clonal selection for quantitative characters. Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia. 25: 74-79.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S., Kovatchev, V. 1987.  Will there be production of dry grapes in our country? Lozarstvo I Vinarstvo, 3: 9-12.

Molle, E., Krastanova, S. 1987.  Applying an algorithm for clustering clonal selection in grapevine. Rastenievudni Nauki, Sofia, 24: 81-85.

Krastanova, S., Molle, E. 1987. Genetic improvement of grapevine Pamid through clonal selection with the use of cluster analysis. Révue Suisse de Viticulture, Arboriculture et Horticulture, 26:418-423.

Molle, E., Krastanova, S. 1987.  Linear regression models for some morphological characters and economically valuable criteria in grapevine. Révue Suisse de Viticulture, Arboriculture et Horticulture, vol. 26:413-417.

Atanassov, A., Dorossiev, L., Krastanova. S., Pandeliev, S., Kovachev, V. 1986.  Assessing suitable media for micropropagation in Vitis vinifera. Genetics and Breeding, 19: 398-403.

Kondarev, M., Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S., Georgieva, P., Georgiev, S. 1984. The grapevine cultivar Pamid Clone 2. Gradinarska i Lozarska Nauka, 21: 70-74.

Kondarev, M., Bojinova, I., Georgieva, P., Prodanski, D., Krastanova, S. 1984.  The grapevine cultivar Pamid Clone 1. Gradinarska i Lozarska Nauka, 21: 63-69.

Krastanova, S. 1980.  Study of the intra-varietal diversity of grapevine Pamid.  Gradinarska i Lozarska Nauka, 17: 84-89.

Kondarev, M., Draganov, G., Prodanski, D., Krastanova, S. 1978.  Big berry Pamid and Pamid clone 6. Lozarstvo I vinarstvo, 27: 4-6.

Books & Book Chapters, and Proceedings

Colova, V., Perl, A., Krastanova, S., Tsvetcov, I., Atanassov, A. 2001.   Genetically engineered grape for disease and stress tolerance. Chapter of book “Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of the Grapevine”, Edited by Kalliopi A. Roubelakis-Angelakis, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. p. 411-432.

Pandeliev, S., Krastanova, S., Kovatchev, V., Atanassov, A., Dorossiev, L., Yankoulova, M., Rousseva, R., Tzvetkov, J. 1990.  Techniques for the production of grapevine free from viruses through tissue culture, Agricultural Academia, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. p 1-60.

Pandeliev, S., Krastanova, S., Kovatchev, V. 1989.   The Application of Plant Biotechnology in Viticulture, Monograph, Agricultural Academia, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Published Abstracts and Presentations at Professional Meetings

Krastanova, S., Ling, K., Zhu, H., Xue, B., Burr, T., Gonsalves, D.  2000.  Development of transgenic grapevine rootstocks with genes from grapevine fanleaf virus and grapevine leafroll associated closteroviruses 2 and 3. Proc. of the VII International Symposium of Grape Genetics and Breeding. Vol.1, Montpellier, France. Acta Horticulture, 528: 367-372.

Spielmann, A., Douet – Orchat, V., Gugerli, P., Krastanova, S. 2000. Resistance to nepoviruses in grapevine and Nicotiana benthamiana: expression of several putative resistance genes in transgenic plants. Proc. of the VII International Symposium of Grape Genetics and Breeding. Montpellier, France. Acta Horticulture, 528: 373-378.

Ling, K., Krastanova, S., Xue, B., Zhu, H., Meng, B., Gonsalves, D. 2000.  Complete genome sequence of grapevine leafroll virus 3 and development of transgenic plants expressing its genes. 13th meeting of the International council for the study of viruses and virus like diseases of the grapevine, March 12-17, Adelaide, Australia.

Petrovic, N., Penev, B., Krastanova, T., Meng, B., Gonsalves, D. 2000.  Distribution of Rupestris stem pitting associated virus in greenhouse and field grown Vitis rupestris St. George. 13th meeting of the International council for the study of viruses and virus like diseases of the grapevine.  March 12-17, Adelaide, Australia.

Krastanova, S., Ling, K., Zhu, H., Xue, B., Burr, T., Gonsalves, D. 1998.  Resistance of transgenic grapevine rootstocks transformed with GFLV, GLRaV2 and 3. Annual APS meeting, Las Vegas. November 8-12.

Spielmann, A., Krastanova, S., Douet-Orhant, V., Marc-Martin, S., Prince Sigrist, M-E, Gugerli, P. 1998.  Resistance aux népovirus chez la vigne: Expression de plusieurs gènes de résistance dans des plants transgéniques. VIIeme symposium international sur la génétique et l’amélioration de la vigne. July 6-10, Montpellier, France.  p. 373-378.

Xue, B., Krastanova, S., Ling, K., Burr, T., Gonsalves, D. 1997.  Transformation of grapevine rootstocks containing genes from grapevine fanleaf virus and grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus 2 and 3. 12th meeting of the International council for the study of viruses and virus like diseases of the grapevine ICVG, September 28 - October 2, Lisbon, Portugal.

Spielmann, A., Krastanova, S., Douet-Orhant, V., Marc-Martin, S., Prince-Sigrist, M-E, Gugerli, P. 1997.   Poster, Resistance to nepoviruses in grapevine; Expression of several putative resistance genes in transgenic plants, 12th meeting of the International council for the study of viruses and virus like diseases of the grapevine ICVG, September 28 - October 2, Lisbon, Portugal. p. 143.

Spielmann, A., Krastanova, S., Douet-Orhant, V., Marc-Martin, S., Prince-Sigrist, M-E., Gugerli, P. 1997.  Resistance to nepoviruses in grapevine; expression of several putative resistance genes in transgenic plants. 5th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, Singapore. September 21-27.

Douet-Orhant, V., Krastanova, S., Marc-Martin, S., Prince-Sigrist, M-E. Gugerli, P., Spielman, A. 1997.  Resistance to nepoviruses in grapevine; expression of several putative resistance genes in transgenic plants. USGEB, 27th Annual; Meeting of the Swiss Societies for Experimental Biology (USGEB/USSBE), March 29-31, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Krastanova, S., Marc-Martin, S., Gugerli, P., Sigrist-Prince, M., Spielmann, A. 1996.  Transformation génétique d’embryons somatiques de vigne par Agrobacterium tumefaciens et régéneration de plants exprimant la protéine capsidale et la réplicase du virus du GFLV et ou de ArMV. The 2nd Colmar Symposium for “Biological Sciences”. Plant Biology, CREF – November 26-28, Colmar, France, p 56-57.

Ling, K., Krastanova, S., Xue, B., Zhu, H., Gonsalves, D. 1996.  Development of Transgenic Grapevines Resistant to Leafroll Virus. Cornell Center for Advanced Technology, Biotechnology. Ithaca, NY. November 20-22.

Marc-Martin, S., Ramel, M., Gugerli, P., Krastanova, S., Spielmann, A. 1995.  Resistance to nepoviruses in grapevine; Expression of several putative resistance genes in transgenic plants. 27th Annual Meeting of the Swiss societies for Experimental Biology (USGEB/USSBE) Fribourg. Experiantia, 51:A 12, p. 87-92.

Barbier, P., Krastanova, S., Demangeat, G., Walter, B. 1995.  Can transgenic expression of the coat protein interfer with infection by nematode transmitted grapevine fanleaf nepovirus GFLV in grapevine? Sym. AAB “Virus movement in cell, plant and vector” Cambridge, England, April 18-23.

Krastanova, S., Perrin, M., Barbier, P., Demangeat, G., Walter, B. 1995.  Transformation de la vigne avec le gène de la protéine de coque d’un virus transmit par nématodes, Grapevine fanleaf nepovirus (GFLV), et tests de protection vis à vis du court-noué. Communication aux”Rencontres de virologie végétale” CNRS/INRA, February 9-11, Aussois, France. p.31-33.

Mauro, M-C, Krastanova, S., Toutain, S., Perrin, M., Barbier, P., Demengeat, G., Cournuet, P., Bardonnet, N., Coutos-Trevenot, A., Deloire, A., Boulay, M., Otten, L., Pinck, L., Walter, B. 1994.  Five grapevine Vitis genotypes transformed with the coat protein gene of the grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV).  In Proceedings of the VIth International Symposium on Grape Breeding, Yalta, Ukraine, p. 102-109.

Krastanova, S., Walter, B., Perrin, M., Cornuet, P., Bardonet, N., Pinck, L., Otten, L. 1993.  Transfer and expression of the coat protein gene of grapevine fanleaf virus in grapevine. Extended abstracts of the 11th ICVG Meeting, September 6-9, Montreux, Switzerland, p. 79-80.

Krastanova, S., Gugerli, P., Spielmann, A. 1992.  Embryogénèse somatique chez différentes espèces de vigne (Vitis spp) et transformation génétique par Agrobacterium ssp., October 12-14, Montpellier, France, p. 286-293. 

Bojinova, I., Mehandjiev, A., Krastanova, S. 1989.  Physiological and morphological changes of vine after treatment with amid ethylene. Proc. of the 2nd Symposium on the Physiology of Vine, September 3-7 Sofia, Bulgaria, p. 96-101.

Krastanova, S.1988.   In vitro mutagenesis of grapevine. International symposium of Experimental Mutagenesis in Plant, October 14-16, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, p. 216-219.

Boneva, I., Krastanova, S. 1986.  Etude sur la possibilité d’accéleration de la sélection clonale et phytosanitaire avec les méthodes de la culture in vitro. 4eme Symposium International sur la Sélection Clonale de la Vigne. Résume des communications, September 11-14, Nyon, Switzerland.

Bozhinova-Boneva, I., Mekhandzhiev, A., Krastanova, S. 1986. Physiological and morphological abnormalities in the development of vine plants treated with ethyleneimine. 2nd –Simp-po-fiziol-vinograd-lozy,-Burgas, Bulgaria, September 19-24, p. 139-142.

Krastanova, S., Molle, E. 1984.  Genetic improvement of grapevine Pamid through clonal selection. Proceeding of the Conference of genetics. Second Youth National Genetic Conference, BASc. Sofia,  September, 19-21,  p. 101-105. (In Russian).

Boneva-Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S. 1983.  Variability of morphological structure in grapevine.
Proceeding of the 2nd Symposium on Vine. June 16, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, p. 37-39.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S., Mehandjiev, A. 1982.  Possibilities of improving the clonal selection of grapevine through experimental mutagenesis.  November 19-22,  “Conference of Young Geneticians”. Sofia, Bulgaria. P. 89-94.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S. 1981.  Clonal selection of the viti-vinicultural complex “N. Nedelchev”. Problems and realizations. Introduction to industrial techniques in viticulture. First International Symposium, June 6-9, Pazardjik, Bulgaria, p. 94-97.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S., Georgieva, P. 1981.  Clonal and phytosanitary selection, Ist International symposium, Pazardjik, June 6-9, Bulgaria, p. 82-87.

Bojinova, I., Krastanova, S. 1981.  Possibility of accelerating clonal selection with phytosanitary control. Third International Symposium of Clonal Selection of Grapevine, July 17-20, Conegliano, Italy, p. 141-145.

Bojinova, I., Matevska, N., Krastanova, S. 1981.  Clonal selection of CSPVE “N. Nedelchev” Septemvri, Bulgaria. Problems and Results. Third International Symposium of Clonal Selection of Grapevine, July 17-20, Conegliano, Italy, p. 128-131.