ICVG
Obituary
Mr
André Vuittenez passed away on 23 November 2010 at the
age of 87, while still working until his last day according to his wife
Claudine Vuittenez. He studied natural sciences
with emphasis in mycology and plant virology. In 1946 he began a
scientific career at the central station of Versailles and was rapidly
charged in 1949 with the mission to develop a service of plant pathology
at INRA (National institute for agronomic research) in Colmar for the
Alsatian agriculture. He became
director of research and managed the plant pathology station for 35 years
until his retirement in 1984.
Eclectic researcher and passionate person, André
Vuittenez undertook a number of studies on several diseases of plants. His
efforts concerned in particular grapevine and sugar beet. His contribution
on grapevine fanleaf disease assured him rapidly an international
reputation. The development of the sanitary selection of grapevine
consistently improved the health of the Alsatian vineyard, reducing
significantly the impact of grapevine fanleaf disease. By applying
thermotherapy to propagation material, he obtained virus free vines of
completely infected Klevener of Heiligenstein. Viticulturists owe a lot to
André Vuittenez.
His scientific contribution in the field of sugar beet
virus diseases is also important. The experimentation in the sugar beets
of Erstein allowed him to identify the disease of rhizomania and to obtain
virus resistant beets. The Academy of Agriculture honored him in 1980 by
awarding the price
Dufrénoy, together with his colleagues Alain Trouvelot
and Charles Putz. His brilliant career is documented by numerous
publications. André Vuittenez was also co-author of the book “Virus
and Virus-like Diseases of Grapevine”.
When André Vuittenez retired in 1984, he left behind
two internationally well known teams of research, valuable scientific
experience and modern tools for the investigation of plant viruses and
their diseases.
In 1962 André Vuittenez participated in the foundation
of ICVG. He served many years in the Committee. Therefore,
ICVG will not
only miss a very talented and active scientist in grapevine virology but
also one of its founders and Honorary Committee Member.
ICVG secretary, CH-1272 Genolier, Switzerland: paul.gugerli@icvg.ch or webmaster@icvg.ch