Guide to Vineyard Trunk Diseases in California Trunk diseases (aka wood-canker diseases) threaten all California vineyards, due to widespread distribution of the fungal pathogens. The infections are chronic and occur each year. Trunk diseases in mature vineyards reduce yields and increase management costs to the point at which the vineyard is no longer profitable. The main trunk diseases, which vary in presence/ prevalence depending on geography and cultivar, are as follows:
Botrysphaeria Dieback
Esca (Grapevine Measles)
Eutypa Dieback
Phomopsis Dieback
Use this guide to identify trunk diseases and to inform management decisions. It is not critical to identify the specific fungal pathogen because the management practices are similar and more than one pathogen is typically present. More importantly, this guide should help you:
- Recognize the trunk disease complex as a problem.
- Understand the preventative practices.
- Adopt preventative practices in young vineyards.
- Perform these practices at appropriate times on an annual basis.
You must be logged in to post a comment.