Project Number
US PP 01 2001

Project title
Characterisation, identification, epidemiology and control of Phaeoacremonium young vine decline of grapevines

Project leader
Fourie, P H

Institution
University of Stellenbosch. Department of Plant Pathology.

Project description
Canker pathogens such as Botryosphaeria spp. cause a range of serious disease symptoms in grapevine, ranging from macrophoma rot, cane dieback, bunch rot, and black dead arm. Under stressed conditions these diseases are found to be more severe. Botryosphaeria spp. also frequently occur in association with other stem pathogens such as Cylindrocarpon, Phaeoacremonium, Phaeomoniella, Eutypa, etc., and therefore cannot be looked at in isolation. Management of this disease complex is rather problematic, and control practices have to be established. Several species of Botryosphaeria have recently been isolated from symptomatic vines in South Africa. We are in the process of characterising this complex, determining what species are involved, and which are the real pathogens causing disease in the field.

Several species of Coniella are known from vines. Coniella diplodiella, which causes white rot, is listed as a quarantine organism in South Africa. However, there are unsubstantiated reports that this pathogen does occur in South Africa. If this would be the case, the phytosanitary requirements can be revised, which would enable farmers to import new cultivars from countries where this disease does occur (Europe, the United States, Australia, etc.). We are presently busy characterising the Coniella spp. occurring in grapevines, to enable us to revise the import requirements of new grapevine cultivars into South Africa.

Several species of Phomopsis are known to cause cane and shoot blight of vines. Our previous work has shown that some species known to cause disease on fruit trees, also occur on vines in South Africa, and that they are not restricted to host, which has strong management implications. These species are now being characterised to determine which are the real pathogens, and what options should be followed for disease management.

Poster(s)
Van Niekerk, J M, Crous, P W, Groenewald, J Z, Verkley, G and Wingflied, M J. 2002. Systematic appraisal of the genus Coniella, with specific reference to the taxa occurring in South Africa. Poster presented a the 40th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology. 20-22 January, Dikhololo, South Africa.
2. Van Niekerk, J M, Crous, P W, Fourie, P H, Groenewald, J Z and Halleen, F. 2003. Botryosphaeria canker and dieback of grapevines. Poster presented at the 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology. 27 February 2003, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Presentation(s)
Van Niekerk, J M. 2001. Stem diseases of grapevines. Lecture. University of Stellenbosch. Department of Plant Pathology. University of Stellenbosch. South Africa.

Van Niekerk, J M. 2002. Botryosphaeria canker and dieback of grapevines. Lecture. University of Stellenbosch. Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Van Niekerk, J M, Crous, P, Fourie, P and Halleen, F. 2002. Botryosphaeria canker and dieback of grapevines. Paper presented at the 26th National Congress of the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture. 13-15 November, Somerset West, South Africa.

Van Niekerk, J M, Crous, P W, Fourie, P H, Groenewald, J Z and Halleen, F. 2003. Characterisation and identification of Botryosphaeria species occurring on grapevines. Paper presented at the 41st Southern African Society of Plant Pathology Congress, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Article
Van Niekerk, J M, Crous, P W, Groenewald, J Z, Verkley, G J M, Fourie, P H, Wingfield, M J. 2004. Systematic reappraisal of Coniella and Pilidiella, with specific reference to species occuring in Eucalyptus and Vitis, Mycological Research, v. 103 (3) (p. 283-303)

Van Coller, G J, Denman, S, Groenewald, J Z, Lamprecht, S C, Crous, P W. 2005. Characterisation and pathogenicity of cylindrocladiella spp associated with root and cutting rot symptoms of grapevines in nurseries, Australasian Plant Pathology, v. 34 (4) (p. 489-498)

Van Coller, G J, Denman, S, Groenewald, J Z, Lamprecht, S C, Crous, P W. 2005. A new perspective on soilborne diseases of grapevines in nurseries, WineLand, Mnth Nov (p. 102-105)

FinalReport.pdf