---

Quick Links

News | The Premier Online | Ministries & Organizations | Job Opportunities | Main Index

---

Contents

• B.C. Home
• Agriculture and Lands
• Pest Management
  • About the Branch
  • Pest Alerts
  • Insects
  • Diseases
  • Weeds
  • Wildlife Damage Management
  • Non-native & Invasive Pests
  • Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Pesticides
  • Publications
  • Regulations
  • Useful links

B.C. Home » Agriculture and Lands » Pest Management » Grape Diseases

Grape Diseases

Young Vine Decline

• Introduction
• Okanagan Survey Results
• General Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Further Information on Diseases Causing Vine Decline
• References

Introduction

Decline of young vines may have several causes, including diseases, nematodes, environmental damage such as winter injury, and cultural factors. Often more than one factor or more than one disease may be involved.

Okanagan Survey Results (2007-2008)

A recent survey conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada investigated decline problems in Okanagan vineyards (O'Gorman, Haag & Sholberg). The survey confirmed the presence of several fungal pathogens causing vine decline symptoms. Diseases detected included:

• Black foot disease (Cylindrocarpon spp.) - isolated from vines ranging from 3-15 years of age in several vineyards. Infection was associated with both a gradual and a rapid decline of vines.
• Esca (Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum) - detected in necrotic vascular tissue on young vines up to 6 years old. Both Phaeoacremonium and Cylindrocarpon were recovered from vines in one vineyard where over 50% of the vines showed decline symptoms.
• Botryosphaeria canker (Botryosphaeria parva and B. dothidea) - detected in vines ranging from 3-11 years of age in several vineyards. The vineyards where B. parva was isolated showed severe decline problems.
• Roesleria root rot (Roesleria subterainia) - found in several vineyards in vines that were also infected with Cylindrocarpon.

Note that black foot, esca and botryosphaeria canker are all new diseases that have not been previously diagnosed in British Columbia vineyards.

General Symptoms

General symptoms of grapevine declines caused by fungal pathogens include delayed and stunted growth, short internodes, yellowing and premature loss of leaves, tendril dieback, trunk dieback, dead arm and cankers. Discolouration may be observed in the wood when vines are cut open. Decline may be rapid, causing plant death within 2-3 weeks, or slow, resulting in reduced vigour and yield over a period of years.

Diagnosis

Vine decline symptoms can be difficult to diagnose accurately. B.C. grape growers interested in diagnosis of decline problems should contact the provincial plant diagnostic laboratory or PARC Summerland for more information.

Further Information on Diseases Causing Vine Decline

• Black foot disease (Cylindrocarpon spp.)
• Esca  / Young Esca (Phaeomoniella and Phaeoacremonium spp.)
• Botryosphaeria canker (Botryosphaeria spp.)
• Roesleria root rot (Roesleria subterainia)
• Pythium and Phytophthora root rots
• Nematodes
• Virus and phytoplasma diseases may also cause general decline symptoms in grapevines.

References

O'Gorman, D.T., P. Haag & P.L. Sholberg. 2008. New Diseases Causing Decline of Wine Grapes in the Okanagan Valley. Canadian Plant Disease Survey, in press.

December, 2008