Fungal infections of grapevine roots in phylloxera-infested vineyards

Authors

  • J. Granett
  • A. D. Omer
  • P. Pessereau
  • M. A. Walker

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/vitis.1998.37.39-42

Keywords:

grape phylloxera, Homoptera, Phylloxeridae, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Fusarium, Pythium, Cephalosporium, Vitis

Abstract

Wounds caused by feeding of grape phylloxera on grape roots can become infected with a variety of fungi. Fusarium roseum, F. oxysporum and Pythium ultimum are important in Vitis vinifera Chardonnay wounds whereas F. oxysporum and Cephalosporium sp. are important for the moderately tolerant rootstock AXR#1. Proportion of root lengths infected in the phloem parenchyma were measured in two vineyards through the 1996 growing season and into the winter. Infection rates were highest in spring (as measured in May) but decreased to a low level by the end of summer. There was a second infection peak in fall. We suggest that the decline in fungal infections was due to death of highly infected roots and their removal from the sampled pool of roots. Loss of roots is a logical cause of vine decline and explains why there have been poor correlations between phylloxera populations and vine damage symptoms.

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Published

2015-08-05

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