Page 23 - Grapevine March-April 2020
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Around The Vineyard
Keeping Your Vineyard Free of
Pests and Disease
By: Alyssa L. Ochs
P ests and plant diseases are inevitable if winemaking. Malformed leaves, small leaves, less
vine growth and reduced berry size are common
you’re in the business of growing any type
of crop, but it’s how you handle those
fewer grape bunches or leaves that are speckled
nuisances that really makes a difference in your after pest damage. Meanwhile, you might notice
production and crop quality. Fortunately, there and yellow after a pest infestation.
are various methods available to vineyards for
controlling common pests, such as insects, mites As with the pests themselves, diseases also vary
and parasites, as well as diseases specific to your widely depending on vineyard region and location
region. within that region. For example, Pierce’s disease is
especially problematic in California’s north coastal
Common Vineyard Pests and Diseases region. Powdery mildew and downy mildew are
common pest-related grapevine diseases across the
Depending on your vineyard’s location, you might country, as well as black rot, botrytis bunch rot and
experience many different types of pests through- phomopsis cane and leaf spot.
out the year. Some of the most common pests that
affect vineyards include grape berry moths, grape BioSafe Systems, LLC’s technical sales representa-
leafhoppers, Japanese beetles and rose chafers. tive Taylor Vadon and technical marketing manager
Various types of mites, such as bud, rust and spi- Patrick Clark told The Grapevine Magazine that
der mites, often feed upon wine grapes, as well as powdery mildew and botrytis are some of the most
mealy bugs and cutworms too. common fungal diseases seen in vineyards today.
They explained how powdery mildew is a devastat-
Each of these pests affects grapevines different- ing disease because this fungal pathogen can cause
ly but can cause significant damage if they aren’t reduced vine growth, yield and fruit quality.
identified and stopped at the earliest signs of “The fungus can survive winter as chasmothecia,
feeding. In severe cases, pests can cause fruit to known as ‘resting spores,’ on the grapevine and
become so damaged that it cannot be used for nearby host sites, as well as mycelia infecting tis-
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