Symptoms and management of grapevine trunk diseases

Abstract

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTD) are the most complex fungal diseases known on grapevine, and according to current knowledge they are caused by more than 130 species of fungi from different taxonomic classification. Their development in the perennial wood leads to the deterioration of grapevine productivity and yield. These diseases reduce vineyard longevity in lack of an addressed disease management. Numerous studies on GTD, conducted over the last few years, have extended the knowledge on their epidemiology and allowed further investigation of their management. After the development of fungal infections in the perennial wood, a unique and sufficiently efficient approach for GTD control is still unavailable. Accordingly, preventive measures represent the only known approach for GTD control. Preventive management should be applied in the nursery during the production of planting material and continued throughout the whole vineyard lifecycle. In cases when GTD develop to a greater extent, there is a possibility to apply measures that may lower their incidence and severity, such as trunk renewal or trunk cleaning (vine surgery). This paper gives an overview of symptoms of the most common GTD, with an emphasis on currently available measures of preventive control that reduce their spread and development, which may extend the lifespan and productivity of vineyards.