Grapevine trunk diseases in BC: From identification to control
Introduction
In the early 2000s, vineyard growers noticed significant grapevine decline, initially thought to be from cold winter temperatures. Grapevines were growing and producing less, and parts of the vine would die. In 2010, researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) set out to identify the cause and potential solutions.
After a 3-year research project, AAFC researchers determined the primary cause of the decline was grapevine trunk diseases – a group of diseases each caused by a different fungal species. The fungi infect grapevines through pruning wounds. Their spores land on the wounds and, in favourable environmental conditions, begin to grow. The fungi grow in plant tissues that transport water and nutrients (xylem and phloem), resulting in the development of cankers and/or wood rot. The cankers interrupt the flow of water and nutrients, resulting in the death of spurs, cordons, and/or trunk, and eventually leading to the death of the vine.
Worldwide, over 100 different fungal species have been associated with these trunk diseases. All known grapevine trunk diseases have been found in BC, including ones affecting young vineyards (within ~5 years after planting) (Petri disease and black foot) and those affecting mature vineyards (Esca, Eutypa dieback, Botryosphaeria dieback, and Phomopsis dieback). In total, over 40 different fungi associated with these diseases have been identified in BC. The most common trunk disease in BC is Botryosphaeria dieback. AAFC researchers developed new molecular diagnostic techniques that identify which fungi are present and how widespread they are in plants and in soil, water, and air.
About this Brief
This brief was prepared by Nisa Chavez and Juliana Cao from the BC Food Web team, with the help of Jose Úrbez-Torres, and is based on the following publications:
- Gramaje, D., Úrbez-Torres, J. R., & Sosnowski, M. R. (2018). Managing grapevine trunk diseases with respect to etiology and epidemiology: Current strategies and future prospects. Plant Disease, 102(1). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-17-0512-FE
- Hrycan, J., Theilmann, J., Mahovlic, A., Boulé, J., & Úrbez-Torres, J. R. (2023). Health status of ready-to-plant grapevine nursery material in Canada regarding young vine decline fungi. Plant Disease, 107(12). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-23-0900-SR
- Pollard-Flamand, J., Boulé, J., Hart, M., & Úrbez-Torres, J. R. (2022). Biocontrol activity of Trichoderma species isolated from grapevines in British Columbia against Botryosphaeria dieback fungal pathogens. Journal of Fungi, 8(4), 409. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8040409
- Pollard-Flamand, J., Boulé, J., Hart, M., & Úrbez-Torres, J. R. (2023). Biological control of Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevines in British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 74(2). https://doi.org/10.5344/ajev.2023.23052
- Úrbez-Torres, J. R., Haag, P., Bowen, P., & O’Gorman, D. T. (2014). Grapevine trunk diseases in British Columbia: Incidence and characterization of the fungal pathogens associated with black foot disease of grapevine. Plant Disease, 98(4), 456–468. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-13-0524-RE
- Úrbez-Torres, J. R., Haag, P., Bowen, P., & O’Gorman, D. T. (2014). Grapevine trunk diseases in British Columbia: Incidence and characterization of the fungal pathogens associated with esca and Petri diseases of grapevine. Plant Disease, 98(4), 469–482. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-13-0523-RE
- Úrbez-Torres, J. R., Haag, P., Bowen, P., Lowery, T., & O’Gorman, D. T. (2015). Development of a DNA macroarray for the detection and identification of fungal pathogens causing decline of young grapevines. Phytopathology, 105(10), 1373–1388. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-15-0069-R
- Úrbez-Torres, J. R., O’Gorman, D. T., Boulé, J., Walker, M., & Pollard-Flamand, J. (2019). Pruning time can reduce grapevine trunk disease infection under British Columbia environmental conditions. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 58(2), 426–427. (Published conference abstract, 11th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases, July 7–12, 2019, Penticton, BC, Canada.) https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/pm/article/view/10627/10622
- O’Gorman, D. T., Walker, M., Theilmann, J., Boulé, J., & Úrbez-Torres, J. R. (2019). Development and implementation of a droplet digital PCR assay for epidemiological studies of Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevines in British Columbia. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 58(2), 409. (Published conference abstract, 11th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases, July 7–12, 2019, Penticton, BC, Canada). https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/pm/article/view/10627/10622