Institut für Pflanzenschutz in Obst- und Weinbau
The project refers to the following topics as included in the working tableau: "Etiology and epidemiology of Esca disease of grapevine", and "Diagnosis of pathogens". Early diagnosis of Esca and Eutypiosis is fundamental for a possible control of these diseases. Here, we plan trials both in the greenhoause and in the field and these are based on a completely new approach: i) distribution of nutritional elements shall be examined both in infected and non-infected leaves, in berries of different developmental stages, and in the xylem sap; ii) the physical presence of pathogens shall be examined in the xylem sap using molecular disgnosis and culturing trials and shall be used as a basis for possible quantification. Target organisms include Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (Pal) and Eutypa lata (Elata). An assay allowing early diagnosis could be used as follows: i) non-destructive assessment of actual condituion of vines, in this way allowing excat measures for possible limitation of diseases; ii) non-destructive assessment of possible control measures (for instance, based on fungicides or defined management in the field). None of these possibilities is available at the moment and is highly desired in all viticultural regions worldwide.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture