Cultivar-specific effects of physical and biological treatments on grapevine trunk disease control and plant vigour

Abstract

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs), including black foot and Petri disease, pose threats to young grapevine establishment. Efficacy of hot water treatment (HWT), Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (TCH), and their combination (HWT + TCH) was assessed for control of GTDs and promotion of early plant development in nine Galician grapevine cultivars. Treatments were applied either prior to grafting or before planting in the field. The treatments were more effective against Petri disease than black foot, with the HWT + TCH combination reducing Petri disease incidence and severity in several cultivars, particularly when applied at the pre-grafting stage. In contrast, limited efficacy was observed against black foot, indicating that post-planting strategies are likely to be required to manage root-infecting pathogens. Plant performance responses were cultivar- and timing-dependent: early treatments generally improved root biomass, whereas late applications occasionally reduced shoot length and root weight. These results highlight the importance of tailoring integrated disease management strategies to specific grapevine cultivars and propagation stages, to optimize nursery outcomes and grapevine health.