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P. 66
Around The Vineyard
Around The Vineyard
Conquering Vineyard Diseases
From Root to Fruit
By: Cheryl Gray
V ineyards are constantly on alert for bac- describes the challenges of the vineyards in her
teria and fungi, both of which can cause
region and throughout the country.
debilitating diseases––persistent threats
to an otherwise healthy grape crop if not put in “I don’t believe there is a grape grower in the
check right away. U.S. that does not have a fungicide plan in place
for prevention of powdery mildew. After powdery
The names of these culprits sound ominous. They mildew, the next biggest culprit we deal with in
include black rot, grapevine trunk diseases, pow- wine grapes is Botrytis or grey mold. Botrytis grows
dery mildew, Phomopsis, Phylloxera and Botrytis under damp conditions and can damage the flowers
bunch rot. They are as intimidating as they sound, during bloom, reducing yields; and also [damage]
causing damage to plant roots, trunks, branches, the nearly ripe fruit following heavy dew events or
leaves and ultimately, grapes. pre-harvest rain. It is absolutely crushing to spray
all season preventing powdery mildew and then
Madeleine Rowan-Davis, a senior viticulturist for lose fruit right before harvest to bunch rot caused
Atlas Vineyard Management of Napa, California, by Botrytis.”
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