橡胶树白粉菌Oidium heveae侵染寄主拟南芥的筛选

为筛选出橡胶树白粉菌Oidium heveae Steimnann新的寄主载体,通过接种野生型拟南芥Col-0、突变体Sr1-4D及eds1,观察了橡胶树白粉菌侵染不同拟南芥突变体的过程,PCR扩增测序法验证相关致病基因,构建橡胶树白粉菌-拟南芥互作体系。结果表明,在Col-0、Sr1-4D叶片上面,橡胶树白粉菌产生部分菌丝后停止生长,不能形成典型的橡胶树白粉病症状;但能成功侵染eds1叶片,在叶片的正、背面有银白色辐射状菌丝,后期在病斑上出现一层粉层,表现橡胶树白粉病的典型症状。组织染色和显微观察结果显示,在突变体eds1叶片上橡胶树白粉菌完成了侵染过程。PCR扩增测序结果表明接种后突变体eds1叶片上及组织中病菌均为橡胶树白粉菌;使用橡胶树白粉菌3个致病相关基因作为靶标,验证了eds1和橡胶树上白粉菌基因组中的3个致病相关基因相似度均达到99%~100%。表明橡胶树白粉菌可侵染拟南芥突变体eds1。     

A natural fungicide for the control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe betae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe cichoracearum</Emphasis>

This study examines the effects of a vegetable fungicide on sugar beet powdery mildew (Erysiphe betae) and cucumber powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum). The formulations consisting of a dispersion of Brassicaceae meal in vegetable or mineral oils on infected leaves of sugar beet, reared in the greenhouse, and of musk melons cultivated under plastic tunnels, were tested in comparison to each oil taken separately. Both formulations containing Brassicaceae meals, caused 94% of conidia to be distorted while for the untreated group only 2% were distorted. Furthermore, the leaf area infected by E. betae was 56% for untreated plants and 2.7 and 9.9% respectively, for plants treated with meal containing mineral and vegetable oil. Vegetable oil considered separately or with Brassicaceae meals showed no phytotoxicity, while the formulations based on mineral oil showed a significantly lower fresh and dry weight on tomato plants. The low level or absence of phytotoxicity of plants treated with vegetable oil formulations suggests that to improve the efficacy of powdery mildew control, they could be used mixed with sulphur. The efficiency of the vegetable formulations in the powdery mildew control observed during these trials encourages further investigation on other parasitic fungi and foliar pathogens.     

Paecilomyces farinosus destroys powdery mildew colonies in detached leaf cultures but not on whole plants

Since 2001, several isolates of Blumeria graminis, the causal agent of cereal powdery mildew, maintained on detached leaves at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, have spontaneously become infected with an unknown filamentous fungus whose mycelia have quickly overgrown the powdery mildew colonies and destroyed them completely. A total of five isolates of the contaminant were obtained and identified as Paecilomyces farinosus based on morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS sequence data. To determine whether these P. farinosus isolates can be considered as biocontrol agents (BCAs) of powdery mildews, we studied the interactions between P. farinosus and the following four powdery mildew species: B. graminis f.sp. hordei infecting barley, Oidium neolycopersici infecting tomato, Golovinomyces orontii infecting tobacco and Podosphaera fusca infecting cucumber. The powdery mildew colonies of all these four powdery mildew species were quickly destroyed by P. farinosus in leaf cultures but neither conidial suspensions nor cell-free culture filtrates of P. farinosus isolates could suppress the spread of powdery mildew infections on diseased barley, tomato, tobacco or cucumber plants in the greenhouse. It is concluded that P. farinosus cannot be considered as a promising BCA of powdery mildew infections although it can destroy powdery mildew colonies in detached leaf cultures and can be a menace during the maintenance of such cultures of cereal, apple, cucurbit and tomato powdery mildew isolates.     

Overwintering of Ampelomyces mycoparasites on apple trees and other plants infected with powdery mildews

Apple shoots and aerial parts of 13 other plant species infected with powdery mildews during the previous season were collected in late winter and early spring between 1998 and 2003 at a total of 34 sample sites in Hungary. Samples were examined for the presence of overwintering structures of Ampelomyces, common mycoparasites of powdery mildews. Pycnidia and resting hyphae resembling those of Ampelomyces were found on six plant species, including apple. Their viability and subsequent mycoparasitic activity of the hyphae emerging from the overwintered fungal structures were studied in vitro to determine whether they can serve as sources of primary inocula of Ampelomyces in the spring. Overwintered pycnidia of Ampelomyces collected in the spring, and produced in both the ascomata and the conidiophores of powdery mildews during the previous season, initiated the life cycle of these mycoparasites when placed close to fresh powdery mildew colonies in vitro. Similarly, thick-walled resting hyphae, found in the dried powdery mildew mycelia which covered the overwintered aerial parts of the host plants, also germinated and gave rise to new intracellular pycnidia of Ampelomyces when powdery mildew colonies were inoculated with them in vitro. On apple trees, Ampelomyces mycoparasites overwintered as resting hyphae in the dried powdery mildew mycelia covering the shoots and in the parasitized ascomata of Podosphaera leucotricha on the bark and the scales of the buds. Approximately 31% of the field samples collected from apple trees in spring between 1998 and 2003 contained overwintered structures of Ampelomyces. Artificial bursting of apple buds in the laboratory showed that both P. leucotricha and Ampelomyces start their life cycle during or soon after bud burst, but Ampelomyces can only slowly follow the spread of its mycohost on infected leaves. Most probably, the mycoparasites did not overwinter in the dormant hyphae of P. leucotricha in the buds, but only on the bark and the bud scales, as their hyphae were not found in the young hyphae of apple powdery mildew that appeared on the leaf tissues during bud burst. This study demonstrated that Ampelomyces mycoparasites can survive the winter in the field as pycnidia and as resting hyphae in the dried mycelia of their mycohosts.     

Prior Inoculation with Non-pathogenic Fungi Induces Systemic Resistance to Powdery Mildew On Cucumber Plants

A spray inoculation of the first leaf of 2-leaf stage cucumber plants with a non-pathogenic isolate of Alternaria cucumarina or Cladosporium fulvum before a challenge inoculation with the pathogen Sphaerotheca fuliginea induced systemic resistance to powdery mildew on leaves 2–5. Systemic resistance was expressed by a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the number of powdery mildew colonies produced on each leaf of the induced plants, as compared with water-sprayed plants. Systemic resistance was evident when a prior inoculation with each of the inducing fungi was administered 1, 3 or 6 days before the challenge inoculation with S. fuliginea. Increasing the inoculum concentration of A. cucumarina or C. fulvum enhanced the systemic protection and provided up to 71.6% or 80.0% reduction, respectively, in the number of colonies produced on upper leaves, relative to controls. Increasing the inoculum concentration of S. fuliginea used for challenge inoculation, increased the number of powdery mildew colonies produced on both induced and non-induced plants. Pre-treated plants, however, were still better protected than controls, indicating that the level of systemic protection was related to the S. fuliginea inoculum concentration. The induction of systemic resistance against powdery mildew by biotic agents, facilitates the development of a wide range of disease management tools.     

Impact of foliar nickel application on urease activity,antioxidant metabolism and control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa) in soybean plants

Nickel (Ni) is a cofactor for urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological impact of Ni on urea, antioxidant metabolism and powdery mildew severity in soybean plants. Seven levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g ha^?1) alone or combined with the fungicides fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin were applied to soybean plants. The total Ni concentration ranged from 3.8 to 38.0 mg kg^?1 in leaves and 3.0 to 18.0 mg kg^?1 in seeds. A strong correlation was observed between Ni concentration in the leaves and seeds, indicating translocation of Ni from leaves to seeds. Application of Ni above 60 g ha^?1 increased lipid peroxidation in the leaf tissues, indicative of oxidative stress. Application of 40 g ha^?1 Ni combined with 300 mL ha^?1 of fungicide reduced powdery mildew severity by up to 99%. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and urease enzyme activity were greatest under these conditions. Urea concentration decreased in response to Ni application. Urease activity in soybean leaves showed a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The leaf Ni concentration showed a positive correlation with the urease and a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The results of this study suggest that urease is a key enzyme regulated by Ni and has a role in host defence against powdery mildew by stimulating antioxidant metabolism in soybean plants.     

The epidemiology of powdery mildew on concord grapes

ABSTRACT Vitis labruscana 'Concord' is a grape cultivar widely grown in the United States for processing into juice and other grape products. Concord grapes are sporadically but sometimes severely damaged by the grape powdery mildew pathogen, Uncinula necator. Although the foliage is often reported to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, severe fruit infection occurs in some years. We observed the seasonal development of powdery mildew on leaves, rachises, and berries of unsprayed Concord grapevines. Inoculations of flower and fruit clusters revealed a brief period of berry susceptibility and a protracted period of rachis susceptibility. The rachis remained highly susceptible to infection, and the severity of rachis infection increased throughout the growing season until the rachis formed a periderm shortly before harvest. In contrast, berries were nearly immune to infection within 2 weeks after fruit set. Rachis and berry infections were detected before the disease was observed on foliage, and the incidence of rachis and berry infection often exceeded disease incidence observed on foliage until after fruit acquired substantial ontogenic resistance. Excellent control of fruit infection, and adequate control of leaf infection, was achieved by two fungicide applications targeted at the peak period of fruit susceptibility. Although Concord is thought to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, the rachis is highly susceptible, and may be the avenue by which prebloom infections make their way onto the developing fruit. Late-season infection of the rachis neither spread to the fruit, nor did it cause fruit to drop prematurely, and may be of little economic consequence on fruit destined for processing. Although fruit of V. vinifera cultivars have been reported to remain susceptible to infection until berry sugar levels reach 8 to 15%, Concord fruit become nearly immune to infection nearly 6 weeks before this stage of development. Because powdery mildew does not become conspicuous on foliage until late summer, it is generally regarded as a late-season problem on Concord grapes, and previous management programs have reflected this belief. However, the greatest contribution to control of fruit infection is due to fungicides applied during the peak period of fruit susceptibility, from bloom until shortly after fruit set, long before the disease is observed on foliage.     

公主岭霉素对草莓的防病诱抗和促生效应

为明确公主岭霉素在草莓生产中的防病诱抗效应,于大田采用五点取样法调查公主岭霉素对草莓白粉病的防控效果及对植株生长性状的影响,并于室内采用生测法测定其对草莓叶片防御酶活性和根际土壤酶活性的影响。结果显示,以公主岭霉素水浸提液100倍稀释液进行灌根并协同叶面喷雾对草莓白粉病的预防效果为71.90%;单独叶面喷雾对草莓白粉病的治疗效果为69.90%;灌根协同叶面喷雾预防与叶面喷雾治疗的综合防控处理对草莓白粉病的防治效果可达85.37%。公主岭霉素水浸提液100倍稀释液灌根后草莓幼苗的株高、叶柄长、叶长、叶宽、叶数、径冠等方面均优于清水对照;叶面喷施可提升叶片中多酚氧化酶和超氧化物歧化酶的活性,喷雾后1 d内即较清水对照显著提高;5 d后过氧化氢酶活性显著高于清水对照。灌根后根际土壤中蔗糖酶的活性在用药后15 d内均显著高于清水对照。表明合理施用公主岭霉素可实现对草莓白粉病的有效防控,并诱导提升草莓植株的抗病性,改善草莓生长环境,促进其生长。     

Defining the resistance risk of the new powdery mildew fungicide quinoxyfen

The new powdery mildew fungicide quinoxyfen belongs to the novel quinoline class of chemistry. Although its biochemical mode of action is unknown, quinoxyfen does not act in the same way as other cereal fungicides. It is a systemic protectant which inhibits the early stages of mildew infection on a wide range of crops, and provides season-long protection from a single early-season spray applied around GS 31. The base-line sensitivity profile of quinoxyfen was defined for barley powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei) from over 340 field isolates collected from different parts of the UK from 1991 onwards. Sensitivities ranged from <0·0001→0·16 mg litre^-1 with a mean of 0·003 mg litre^-1. Current work is extending the base-line sensitivity studies to wheat powdery mildew (E. graminis f.sp. tritici), and includes isolates from European trials, but so far this new data set has shown no differences from barley powdery mildew. Quinoxyfen-resistant mutants were generated in the laboratory, and some similar resistant strains were obtained from treated field crops. These laboratory and field strains were always defective, in some way, for sporulation and, curiously, all required the presence of quinoxyfen for survival in culture. Attempts to generate resistant mutants that sporulated normally were unsuccessful. These studies suggested that the resistance risk for quinoxyfen is low. The recommended anti-resistance strategy accompanying introduction of quinoxyfen avoids seed treatments and late-season applications. Instead, a single early (GS 31) treatment using either pre-formulated mixtures or alternating with a fungicide with different mode of action is recommended. This strategy will be supported by continued monitoring of wheat and barley powdery mildew. ©1997 SCI     

Evaluation of systemic fungicides for use in the glasshouse industry

The primary evaluation of ten fungicides for the control of cucumber powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), tomato leaf mould (Cladosporium fulvum) and tomato grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) indicated that nine of them were systemically active against one or more of the pathogens when applied as soil drenches. Benomyl, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, thiabendazole and Cela W52A showed activity against all three diseases, but dimethirimol, triarimol and dodemorph were more specific and mainly active against cucumber powdery mildew. An in vitro bioassay generally indicated that fungitoxicity was not translocated from sprayed to unsprayed leaves, and though toxicity to B. cinerea, following soil drenches of benomyl, thiophanate and thiophanate-methyl, was detected by bioassay in leaf sap and calyces it was not detected in fruit. Furthermore, extended evaluation of benomyl for the control of grey mould on cropping tomotoes showed that in the presence of abundant B. cinerea inoculum, benomyl soil drench treatment effectively controlled flower and leaf infection but not fruit ghost-spotting.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe alphitoides</Emphasis> on transpiration and photosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> leaves

Oak powdery mildew, (Erysiphe alphitoides) causes one of the most common diseases of oaks. We assessed the impact of this pathogen on photosynthesis and water relations of infected leaves using greenhouse-grown oak seedlings. Transpiration of seedlings infected by oak powdery mildew was also investigated. Altogether, E. alphitoides had a low impact on host gas exchange whether at the leaf or whole plant scale. Maximal stomatal conductance of infected leaves was reduced by 20–30% compared to healthy controls. Severely infected seedlings did not experience any detectable change of whole plant transpiration. The reduction in net CO₂ assimilation, A_n, was less than proportional to the fraction of leaf area infected. Powdery mildew reduced both the maximal light-driven electron flux (J_max) and the apparent maximal carboxylation velocity (Vc_max) although Vc_max was slightly more impacted than J_max. No compensation for the infection occurred in healthy leaves of partly infected seedlings as the reduced photosynthesis in the infected leaves was not paralleled by increased A_n levels in the healthy leaves of the seedlings. However, E. alphitoides had a strong impact on the leaf life-span of infected leaves. It is concluded that the moderate effect of E. alphitoides on oak might be related to the small impact on net CO₂ assimilation rates and on tree transpiration; nevertheless, the severe reduction in leaf life-span of heavily infected leaves may lead to decreased carbon uptake over the growth season.     

Nucleoside/nucleotide pools in wheat leaves naturally infected with Erysiphe graminis. I. Changes in the flag leaf

Nucleoside and nucleotide contents of the flag leaves of wheat plants, naturally infected with the powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe graminis were analysed in a field experiment. Fungicide treated plants were used as controls. Only low levels of infection occurred during the experiment (1% to 4% of the leaf area), but they resulted in higher leaf dry weight, and lower levels of chlorophyll, inorganic phosphate and NADP compared with the control plants. Although the total adenine nucleotide pools were the same in the flag leaves of infected and control plants, the energy charge values were slightly larger in the infected flag leaves. The total nucleoside content was higher in the infected flag leaves than the control; while the adenosine pool decreased, that of uridine increased strongly. Although the level of UDP-glucose was similar in the flag leaves of infected and control plants only decreasing slightly with time, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, a precursor for fungal chitin biosynthesis, showed very different behaviour. The amounts of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine were very low in the control plants but increased greatly in the infected flag leaves to very high values (900nmol g⁻¹ d.wt) obviously reflecting exploitation of the hosts metabolism by the fungus for precursors for chitin biosynthesis. The size of the uridine pools was also correlated with the degree of infection and probably reflected recycling of the UDP moiety.     

苦瓜白粉病病原菌和生理小种的鉴定及苦瓜对白粉病的抗性遗传分析

为明确海南省苦瓜白粉病的病原菌、生理小种及苦瓜对白粉病的抗性遗传规律,结合形态学鉴定和分子鉴定解析白粉病菌及生理小种种类,通过显微镜观察白粉病菌侵染过程,并应用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型分析法探讨苦瓜对白粉病的主要抗性遗传规律。结果表明:采集自海南省6个市(县)的苦瓜白粉病病原菌均为单囊壳白粉菌Sphaerotheca fuliginea,属生理小种2F,该菌在侵染苦瓜叶片时有4个关键时期:接种后4 h为分生孢子萌发高峰期,8 h为附着孢形成高峰期,16～24 h为次生菌丝形成高峰期,5 d为分生孢子梗形成高峰期。将其接种于苦瓜抗、感品系,对白粉病的抗性符合2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因模型,主基因和多基因共同控制苦瓜对白粉病的抗性,其中以主基因遗传为主,且会受到环境变异的影响。根据苦瓜抗性遗传规律,F2代主基因遗传率最高,受环境影响最小,在苦瓜的白粉病抗性育种中,以早期世代F2代作为有效选择世代。研究表明白粉病菌侵染叶片的前2 d是白粉病防治的最佳时期,所以在白粉病易发的物候期,可将防治时间提前1～2 d。     

Biological control of cucumber powdery mildew with Tilletiopsis minor under greenhouse conditions

In growth cabinet and greenhouse experiments the efficacy ofTilletiopsis minor in controlling cucumber powdery mildew decreased as humidity was lowered. This effect could be counteracted by formulation of the mycoparasite with lipophilic substances, like Hora Oleo 11E and lipids from milk. These formulations, without the mycoparasite, were also found to be deleterious to powdery mildew development. In the long run, however, formulations withT. minor gave better biological control of cucumber powdery mildew than formulations alone.     

Control of Leveillula taurica in Tomato by Acremonium alternatum is by Induction of Resistance, not Hyperparasitism

Spores of the hyperparasite Acremonium alternatum reduced powdery mildew infection by Leveillula taurica on greenhouse tomato. The effect was slightly increased when spores were applied killed, and therefore not due to direct parasitism. The effect was systemic, protecting untreated leaves above the treated ones. Spores killed by heat had more effect than when killed by UV, so the effect was presumably due to induction of host resistance by substances released when cells were heat killed. The size of the effect depended upon leaf age and level of infection. Effects on primary infection and expansion of successful infections appear to be under independent control.     

Local and systemic effects of oxylipins on powdery mildew infection in barley

Treatment of the first leaves of barley seedlings with the oxylipin colneleic acid, or the two trihydroxy oxylipins 9,12,13-trihydroxy-11(E)-octadecenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoic acid, reduced infection of that leaf by the powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis Speer f sp hordei Marchal. When applied to first leaves, etheroleic acid and colneleic acid, as well as the trihydroxy oxylipin 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10(E),15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid, also reduced mildew infection in second leaves. In all cases where local and systemic effects against mildew were observed, activity of the defence-related enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) was increased, but only following challenge inoculation with powdery mildew. Peroxidase activity was not affected by oxylipin treatment or mildew inoculation. Whether the effects observed were due to the oxylipins or to breakdown products is not known, since no information is available on the stability of these particular oxylipins on leaf surfaces. Nevertheless, these data represent the first report of systemic effects against pathogen infection following pre-treatment with oxylipins.     

Morphological,molecular phylogenetic and pathogenic analyses of Erysiphe spp. causing powdery mildew on cashew plants in Brazil

Cashew powdery mildew is presently the most important disease of cashew trees in all Brazilian growing regions. Although it was described over a century ago, it had never threatened the Brazilian cashew industry until the first decade of the 21st century. Morphological and pathogenic evidence indicated the possibility of different pathogen species being involved in early and late types of cashew powdery mildew. This study was designed to elucidate this issue by comparing two different powdery mildew fungi occurring on cashew plants in Brazil according to the morphological characteristics, phylogenetic relationships with closely related powdery mildew fungi and pathogenic relationships. Based on morphology, molecular phylogenetics and pathogenicity on cashew, it was shown that two species of powdery mildew specimens are without question associated with cashew trees. One species, which infects young immature tissues such as shiny leaves, flowers and young fruits, is Erysiphe quercicola, while Erysiphe necator is associated exclusively with mature leaves. This is the first report of both E. quercicola and E. necator causing cashew powdery mildew, and the first detection of E. necator on cashew.     

Effect of potassium silicate on epidemic components of powdery mildew on melon

The effects of silicon (Si) supplied in the form of potassium silicate (PS) were evaluated on epidemic components of powdery mildew of melon under greenhouse conditions. The PS was applied to the roots or to leaves. In the first experiment, epidemic components were evaluated after inoculation with Podosphaera xanthii. In the second experiment, the disease progress rate was evaluated on plants subjected to natural infection. The area under the disease progress curve was reduced by 65% and 73% in the foliar and root treatments, respectively, compared to control plants, as a consequence of reductions in infection efficiency, colony expansion rate, colony area, conidial production and disease progress rate. However, root application of PS was more effective than foliar application in reducing most of the epidemic components, except for infection efficiency. This can be explained by the high Si concentration in leaf tissues with root application, in contrast to the foliar treatment where Si was only deposited on the external leaf surfaces. The effects of PS reported in this study demonstrated that powdery mildew of melon can be controlled, and that the best results can be achieved when PS is supplied to the roots.     

A dynamic simulation model for powdery mildew epidemics on winter wheat*

A system dynamic model for epidemics of Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew) on wheat was elaborated, based on the interaction between stages of the disease cycle, weather conditions and host characteristics. The model simulates the progress of disease severity, expressed as a percentage of powdered leaf area, on individual leaves, with a time step of one day, as a result of two processes: the growth of fungal colonies already present on the leaves and the appearance of new colonies. By means of mathematical equations, air temperature, vapour pressure deficit, rainfall and wind are used to calculate incubation, latency and sporulation periods, the growth of pathogen colonies, infection and spore survival. Effects of host susceptibility to infection, and of leaf position within the plant canopy, are also included. Model validation was carried out by comparing model outputs with the dynamics of epidemics observed on winter wheat grown at several locations in northern Italy (1991–98). Simulations were performed using meteorological data measured in standard meteorological stations. As there was good agreement between model outputs and actual disease severity, the model can be considered a satisfactory simulator of the effect of environmental conditions on the progress of powdery mildew epidemics.     

The reliability of leaf bioassays for predicting disease resistance on fruit: a case study on grapevine resistance to downy and powdery mildew

This study was designed to assess the reliability of grapevine leaf bioassays for predicting disease resistance on fruit in the field. The efficacy of various grapevine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for conferring resistance to downy and powdery mildew was evaluated in bioassays and in a 2‐year field experiment for downy mildew. The resistance genes studied were inherited from Muscadinia rotundifolia (Rpv1 and Run1) and from American Vitis species through cv. Regent (QTLRgP and QTLRgD). In bioassays, genotypes carrying Run1 blocked powdery mildew development at early stages. Genotypes combining Run1 with QTLRgP displayed no greater level of resistance. For downy mildew, genotypes carrying Rpv1 and/or QTLRgD were more resistant than the susceptible cv. Merlot, and showed a high level of leaf resistance in the field (<10% severity). Disease levels on bunches were much higher than those on leaves, with a high variability between Rpv1 genotypes (1–48%). A Bayesian decision theory framework predicted that an OIV‐452 threshold of 5 in leaf bioassays allowed accurate selection of grapevine genotypes (P = 0·83) with satisfactory disease severity on bunches. Therefore, this study validates that the use of early bioassays on leaves, as currently performed by grapevine breeders, ensures a satisfactory level of resistance to downy mildew of bunches in the field.