PEST AND DISEASES

OF GRAPES

R.R.D.T. NIRANGA
Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening
Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation mgt
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
 Diseases Pests

Fungal • Grape Cane Borer

• Powdery mildew • Mealy bug
• Downey mildew • Spider Mites
• Rust • Berry eating
• Phomopsis cane and creatures
leaf spot disease – Thief
• Botrytis Bunch Rot – Wasps
– Ants
Bacteria – Birds
• Crown Gall of Grape – Squirrels
• Vine girdler
Viruses
• Grapevine fan leaf virus
• Arabis mosaic virus
• Rupestris stem pitting
virus
Fungal Diseases
 Powdery mildew (Uncinula necator)

Powdery mildew affected bunch & leaves

Powdery Mildew on Fruits
 Severe powdery mildew Spore (conidia) production of
infection on grape leaf powdery mildew on a grape
leaf
Symptoms

Powdery mildew produces white, powdery growth on

grape leaves and shoots.

Severely infected leaves may turn brown and fall off.

Infected berries appear rusty or scaly.

They may fail to mature properly or split open.

Ecology

 The fungus survives the winter in infected grape tissue.

 Wind carries spores long distances.

 Unlike most other fungus diseases, powdery mildew

tends to be most severe in dry growing seasons.

Management

Cultural Management

 Less susceptible to powdery mildew.

 Plant grapes in full sun with good air circulation

Fungicides
 Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola)

Downy mildew on upper side of Appearance of infection on

grape leaf. underside of a leaf

Downy mildew symptoms on a Downy mildew symptoms on fruits

shoot
Symptoms

 Infected leaves develop yellowish-green, and translucent

“oily” lesions on their upper surfaces.

 On lower surfaces, the fungus produces a white to grayish

cotton-like growth.

 Affected leaves eventually turn brown, wither, curl, and

drop early, exposing the immature berries to direct sun.

 Berries that are infected when young turn light.

Ecology

 Spores are spread by splashing rain, wind, and through

 The handling of plants.

Management

Cultural Management

 When planting grapevines, select sunny, open areas with

good air movement.

 Prune and train vines annually to maintain excellent air

circulation

 Control tall weeds and grasses in the planting area.

Fungicides

 If downy mildew is a problem, a program of fungicide

sprays may be needed.

 Captan, Copper compounds, (fixed coppers and

Bordeaux mixture), Mancozeb, Ridomil/MZ, Ridomil
/Copper, Sovran, and Ziram
Botrytis Bunch Rot of Grape (Botrytis cinerea)

Discolored, shriveled berries Botrytis cinerea sporulating

caused by Botrytis Bunch Rot on grape berries
 Symptoms

 Ripening grapes are affected by a rot

 With sufficient rain and humidity, berries split open and

develop a grayish mold on the surface.

 Affected berries may shrivel in the dry climate.

Ecology

 Infection is optimal at 15-20oC with free water or over

90% humidity.

 Grape cultivars with dense canopies, thin skins, and/or

tight clusters are more susceptible to botrytis bunch
rot
Management

Cultural Management

 Prevent excessive vine growth by judicious use of water

and fertilizer.

 Prevent berry damage (powdery mildew birds and insects)

 Canopy management

Fungicides
Phomopsis cane and leaf spot disease
(Phomopsis viticola)

Infected leaves
Infected inflorescence
Lesions of Phomopsis cane and leaf spot on
shoot and stem
SYMPTOMS

 Phomopsis cane and leaf spot appears as tiny dark

spots with yellowish margins on leaf blades and veins

 Basal leaves with heavy infection become distorted

and usually never develop to full size

 On shoots, small spots with black centers similar to

those found on leaves occur usually on a basal portion
of the shoot

 Heavy infection usually results in a scabby appearance

of the basal portions of the shoot
Control

Cultural practices

 Increase air circulation in the vineyard

 Removing diseased canes from the vine during normal

pruning operations

 This disease can be controlled by applying protectant

fungicides before rainy weather begins

Chemical control

 Contact materials such as copper, sulfur, ziram,

mancozeb, and maneb
Bacteria diseases
Crown Gall of Grape (Agrobacterium vitis)
Symptoms

 Gall formation on the aerial part of the vines

 Young galls are soft, creamy to greenish in color, with no

bark or covering.

 As they age, the tissue darkens to brown.

 The surface becomes open and the texture becomes

moderately hard and very rough

Ecology

 Spread through propagation of diseased wood.

Management

Cultural Management

 Select sites with good air and water drainage

 Avoid vine stress due to poor nutrition or low pH

 pest control programs for nematodes

 Do not propagate wood taken from galled vines

 Hot water treatment of vines is effective in reducing crown

gall infection levels in planting materials

Fungicides
Pests of Grapes
Grape Cane Borer (Amphicerus bicaudatus)

Adult

Damage
Grape cane borer egg

Grape cane borer larva

Grape cane borer pupa

Damage

 Small holes can be seen on the vine

 Bore the vine and weaken the vascular functions

 Vine become weak and dry

Management

cultural practices

 such as removal and destruction of affected canes

Chemical practices
 Spider Mite (Tetranychus pacificus)

Damage

 Mites feeding on the undersides of the leaves may

cause foliage to turn a bronze color.
 Leaf bronzing early in the season causes stunting and
reduces berry quality.

Management

Cultural Management

 Good irrigation and fertilizer practices help offset

damage to foliage.
Nutrient deficiencies
Boron deficiency
Potassium deficiency
Boron-deficiency