Improving the management of grapevine trunk disease

Impact summary

The research team at Charles Sturt along with industry partners investigated the prevalence and epidemiology of grapevine trunk disease caused by fungal pathogens and developed molecular tools for accurate diagnostics. These pathogens cause yield reduction, vine decline and eventual death of grapevines, and are considered serious threats to the sustainability of the Australian wine industry.

Charles Sturt's Grapevine Trunk Disease Team have been researching in this field since 2003 and involves alliances with the South Australian Research and Development Institute, The University of Adelaide, wine grape growers across Australia (with a focus on NSW) with funding from Wine Australia, regional grape growers associations, Charles Sturt and the Australian Research Council.

Researchers work closely with grape growers and involve them in research components such as sample collection and field trials, and workshop participation that train growers on disease diagnosis and management.

The key beneficiaries from this research have been primary producers who have reported modification to pruning practices and grapevine management. The on-ground practices that have resulted from this research and engagement with the viticulture industry have the capacity to significantly promote grapevine longevity, since it is well understood that healthy vines should have ~40 year life span, while those with fungal disease may only last 15-20 years.

The wine industry in Australia and internationally benefit from the research in ways that include:

•Assisted growers in decision making regarding pruning. Based on research findings, growers now use science to determine the best times of year and weather conditions to prune vines and avoid fungal infection. This reduces vine dieback and maintains or increases yield.
•Advancement and recognition of the importance and economic impact of grapevine disease by wine industry and other stakeholders. The research led many growers to typically avoid pruning during rain, rework vines to remove diseased wood and allow the vines to recover, protect large wounds resulting from pruning, apply fungicides through the known period after wounding when vines are most vulnerable to fungal infection, and take approaches to managing diseased vines through heavy pruning and retraining to limit total vine losses.
•Educating growers to identify fungal infections in their grapevines early, without a need for specialist expertise.
•Research was disseminated directly to the community through regional newspapers, fact sheets, podcasts, videos and webinars.
•Over 30 hands-on industry workshops for wine grape growers furthered their understanding and management techniques associated with the disease.
•Advice and diagnostic services provided to grape growers in NSW, QLD, SA, WA and VIC.
•Development of industry recommendations, including the Wine Australia Best Practices Management Guide for grapevine trunk diseases and the NSW Grapevine Management Guide. These practices include types and timing of pruning practices and fungicide applications to prevent infection.

Impact date	2003
Category of impact	Economic Impact
Impact level	Benefit