Screening of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> isolates from vineyards in Israel for resistance to fungicides

Plots in two vineyards in the Golan Heights, Israel were treated with six botryticides during three growing seasons with 3 applications per season. Applications of fenhexamid, pyrimethanil and cyprodinil + fludioxonil were effective, resulting in 52–65% and 53–63% mean reduction in grey mould incidence and severity, respectively. Carbendazim, fluazinam and iprodione were ineffective or slightly effective. Five hundred and sixteen B. cinerea isolates were collected from infected berries or trapped from the air in the vineyards, and profiles of sensitivity to benomyl, fenhexamid, fluazinam, fludioxonil, iprodione and pyrimethanil were established for each of the isolates based on a mycelial growth test. Seventy-four percent of the isolates were sensitive to the six tested fungicides, and the other 26% of the isolates were classified into 10 phenotypes characterized by resistance to one or more fungicides. Resistant isolates showed fitness parameters similar or reduced in comparison to sensitive isolates. Resistance to benzimidazoles and to dicarboximides was the most frequent (up to 25%) and apparently pre-existed in the populations tested. Increased frequency of benzimidazole resistance, but not dicarboximide resistance, was observed following the 3 years of applications of the fungicides. High level resistance to pyrimethanil was present at a frequency of about 2% in both vineyards in the first 2 years of the sampling survey and reached 10% in the third year at Site 2. A few isolates were resistant to fenhexamid or fludioxonil (0.8 or 0.2%, respectively). No strong resistance to fluazinam was detected, although numerous, less sensitive isolates, presumably possessing multi-drug resistance traits, were recovered at higher frequency from the plots treated with fluazinam than from the untreated plots.     

A yellows disease system with differing principal host plants for the obligatory pathogen and its vector

A stolbur‐type phytoplasma is the putative pathogen of grapevine yellows disease that causes economic damage to vineyards in most growing areas around the world. The pathogen is known to be transmitted to vines by two planthoppers, Hyalesthes obsoletus and Reptalus panzer; the latter is found in Europe but has not yet been observed in Israel. The establishment of a vector–pathogen–plant relationship requires that the pathogen and the vector meet on a shared host plant. This does not happen in the ecosystem examined here, where two different principal host plants for the obligate pathogen and its vector exist: the pathogen is established on vines, while its vector, H. obsoletus, develops on Vitex agnus‐castus. The present study verified that: (i) the vector cannot complete its life cycle on vines; (ii) V. agnus‐castus does not grow in the immediate vicinity of vines, and does not harbour the pathogen; and (iii) the pathogen is not vertically transmitted from mother to offspring. Moreover, in a thorough search of plants in vine growing areas, no other plants were found that host both the vector and the pathogen. However, it was found that the planthopper can acquire the phytoplasma from infected vines. Nonetheless, this does not prove the ability of the planthopper to further transmit the pathogen to vines and does not explain the presence of the vector on the non‐preferred vines. Thus, the enigma of the pathogen–vector–host triangle in this system remains unresolved.     

The effect of grape vine cultivars on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lobesia botrana</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) population levels

The European vine moth Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a key pest in the vineyards of Israel and Europe. Traps baited with the female sex pheromone are commonly used to monitor the pest population. However, the role of the vine cultivars on monitoring the moth population using pheromone-baited traps was not yet studied. The present study aimed to identify the effect of grape cultivars on L. botrana adult distribution patterns in the field, in order to achieve a better understanding of the monitored data in respect to male and female’s host preference. The 3-year study in commercial vineyards used four cultivars: Carignan, Emerald Riesling, French Colombard, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The moth population of each generation was estimated from male counts in pheromone traps; three generations were observed in all experimental orchards, each year. Female host choice was studied by monitoring freshly deposited eggs and newly hatched larvae on vines. The study showed a significant effect of cultivar on numbers of trapped males in most years, and a cultivar effect on female host choice. For both males and females and for all phenological stages of the grapes, Carignan and French Colombard attracted the most and Cabernet Sauvignon the fewest specimens. The results show that cultivar blend within the vineyard can affect the distribution pattern of the pest. Knowledge of the expected choice of the female moth, and of the timing of its decision could lead to an improved monitoring system, with the preferred cultivar as an indicator.     

Effect of grapevine training systems on susceptibility of berries to infection by Erysiphe necator

The effect of two training systems on the development of powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator in berries of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines was examined. Disease development was monitored on berries from vines trained to either vertical shoot positioning or as free-positioned, topped vines with no foliage support wires. No fungicides were applied and powdery mildew development was recorded following artificial inoculation of young berries. Disease incidence was higher in berries collected from the vertical shoot system than in berries from the free-canopy vines. Incubating the berries under the reciprocal training system had a slight effect on PM development with the more susceptible berries of the VSP system but not on berries from the free canopy. The data suggest that the training system decreases disease development mainly through an effect on the susceptibility of the berries. The latter were less vulnerable to artificial inoculation performed in the laboratory after prior exposure to higher radiance intensity. The free-position system may therefore be useful in reducing the use of fungicides.     

Ozone for control of post-harvest decay of table grapes caused byRhizopus stolonifer

The effect of ozone on post-harvest decay of table grapes was studied both with regard to its effectiveness and its possible mode of action. Ozone concentrations fell rapidly upon contact with organic matter and the amount which reacted with grape berries and the microflora on their surface was about 0.1mgg^-1, when supplied at a rate of 8mgmin^-1for 20min. The dose applied could be increased by longer periods of exposure, but symptoms of toxicity were observed on certain cultivars. The number of colony forming units (cfu) of fungi, yeasts and bacteria naturally present on the berry surface was considerably reduced by a 20min exposure to ozone. Ozone treatments significantly reduced the extent of berry decay caused by fungi following cold storage and increased shelf-life. A significant decrease in decay was observed in berries that were treated with ozone either before or after being inoculated withRhizopus stolonifer.This finding indicates that, in addition to its sterilizing effect, ozone also induced resistance to post-harvest decay development. The phytoalexins resveratrol and pterostilbene were elicited by ozone treatments, at levels similar to those produced by uv-c irradiation. Resveratrol accumulated in greater quantities than pterostilbene. Inoculation withR. stoloniferin addition to ozone treatment, raised the levels of both stilbenes even more. Exposing berries to ozone was almost as effective as SO₂fumigation for the control of storage decay caused byR. stoloniferand no deleterious effects were observed on the appearance of the grape cluster. Ozone treatments can therefore be considered as a possible substitute for SO₂fumigation for the control of post-harvest fungal decay.     

Effect of Grapevine Training Systems on Development of Powdery Mildew

The effects of two training systems and row spacing on development of powdery mildew caused by Uncinula necator on clusters of 'Chardonnay' and 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevines were examined. Disease development was monitored in blocks with two different row spacing (2 and 3 m) in vertical shoot positioned vines (VSP) and in free-positioned, topped vines (FC) with no foliage support wires. The FC vines were hedged to about one meter shoot length. No fungicides were applied and disease powdery mildew level was recorded four to seven days after appearance of the first disease symptoms. During five consecutive years (1994–1998), disease incidence was higher in the VSP system than the FC vines. The difference was high when disease level was low (30% of the clusters in VSP vines infected, compared to 5% in the FC vines) and decreased when disease pressure was high (79% in VSP compared to 46% in FC vines). In the 'Cabernet Sauvignon', in four of the years, disease incidence was higher in the narrow spacing of 2 m between the rows than that in the wider 3 m spacing. Microclimate (temperature, relative humidity and light intensity) was monitored in the cluster zone near the spurs of 'Chardonnay' vines during three weeks in the 1998 season. In VSP vines light intensity was lower then that in FC vines both four and one week before disease symptoms appeared (72% and 18% respectively). The differences in temperature and relative humidity were less than 1°C and 3%, respectively, and most likely did not affect disease development. The results suggested that high light intensity is the primary factor, which limits powdery mildew growth development on field-grown grapevines in the Golan region of Israel. The use of the FC system might be useful in reducing the need of fungicides.     

Controlling downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in field-grown grapevine with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA)

Two foliar sprays of BABA (DL-3-amino-n-butanoic acid, DL-β-aminobutyric acid), or a mixture of BABA and different fungicides at reduced rates, effectively controlled (>90%) downy mildew, caused byPlasmopara viticola, in the foliage of field-grown grapevines. In five field trials BABA sprays resulted in a significant reduction of infectious leaf area and fungal sporulation, and of necrosis of oilspots. The level of disease control for BABA in four trials was similar to that achieved by metalaxyl-Cu or ‘Acrobat Plus’ (dimethomorph + mancozeb). Two-way tank-mixtures of BABA + fosetyl-AI, BABA + folpet, or BABA + Bion (benzothiadiazole), each at half the recommended rate, provided an additive effect againstP. viticola, performing as well as the full rate of each fungicide alone. BABA was not phytotoxic and did not affect pH, total titratable acids, or °Brix of the juice, as determined by commercial fungicidal standards. The results indicate that foliar applications of BABA can efficiently be integrated into a downy mildew control program in vineyards.     

Cover Image,Volume 74, Issue 4

The cover image, by Ofir Lidor et al., is based on the Research Article Introduction of a putative biocontrol agent into a range of phytoplasma‐ and liberibacter‐susceptible crop plants, DOI: 10.1002/ps.4775 .