Fungal Diseases:
- Downy mildew: Caused by Plasmopara viticola, it produces yellow-green patches on leaves, which later turn brown and die.
- Powdery mildew: Caused by Erysiphe necator, it forms a white powdery coating on leaves and shoots.
- Botrytis bunch rot: Caused by Botrytis cinerea, it affects grapes before and after harvest, causing them to rot and develop a fuzzy gray mold.
- Black rot: Caused by Guignardia bidwellii, it creates black spots on leaves, shoots, and grapes, eventually leading to premature defoliation and fruit loss.
- Phomopsis cane and leaf spot: Caused by Phomopsis viticola, it causes brown lesions on leaves, petioles, and canes.
- Crown gall: Caused by Agrobacterium vitis, it forms galls on roots, vines, and trunks, restricting water and nutrient uptake.
Bacterial Diseases:
- Pierce's disease: Caused by Xylella fastidiosa, it is transmitted by insects and blocks water flow in vines, leading to grapevine collapse and death.
- Grapevine fanleaf degeneration: Caused by Grapevine fanleaf virus, it spreads through grafting and rootstocks, causing leaves to become mottled and crinkled.
- Bacterial leaf spot: Caused by Xanthomonas ampelina, it creates small, angular brown spots on leaves.
Viral Diseases:
- Grapevine leafroll virus: Transmitted by mealybugs, it causes inward rolling and yellowing of leaves, leading to reduced grape yield.
- Grapevine trunk diseases: Caused by a complex of fungi and bacteria, they affect the wood of vines, weakening them and reducing their productivity.
- Red blotch disease: Caused by Grapevine red blotch associated virus, it is a recently discovered virus that causes red blotches and distorted growth in leaves and fruit.
Environmental Factors:
- Frost: Cold temperatures can damage or kill grapevines, particularly during critical growth stages.
- Drought stress: Prolonged lack of water can lead to reduced grape size, yield, and quality.
- Nutrient deficiencies: Insufficient levels of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium, can affect vine growth and fruit production.
- Soil conditions: Heavy, poorly-drained soils can restrict root growth and drainage, impacting grapevine health.
Management Practices:
- Cultural practices: Pruning, trellising, and canopy management can improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
- Fungicides and bactericides: Chemical treatments can control fungal and bacterial diseases.
- Antivirals: Some antivirals can help manage certain viral diseases.
- Resistant rootstocks and cultivars: Grafting onto resistant rootstocks or planting disease-resistant cultivars can reduce the impact of some diseases.
- Sanitation: Removing infected plant material and managing weeds can help prevent disease spread.