Did you know vines get sick?
It’s true! vineyards can get sick and, nowadays there are some threats worldwide which can a compromise vine’s stable production. These threats might be presented in mother-plant rootstocks, vine nurseries and young and old vines and can make the vineyard’s longevity in cause.
Which are the most common diseases?
One of the main vine diseases is Downy Mildew (a fungus that attacks all green organs of the plant) which is developed in warm temperatures, rain and humidity. It is recognized by the “oil stains” and white powder on the grapes.
Also caused by a fungus, Powdery Mildew is detected on the leaves, tendrils and clusters. It is caused by cloudy weather and high humidity. These conditions are favorable to the development of Powdery Mildew. All the green bodies throughout the plant’s growing season can be infected. Its presence is detected through small yellow spots on the leaves and/or when grapes are gnarled or the skin is torn (killing the cells and Smashing the skin, exposing the grapes).
Eutypiosis is other very destructive disease that spreads easily among the vines. It usually occurs on older vines and it is caused by ascospores, which penetrate the vine through pruning wounds and develops in the branches and deadwood. It causes vegetation with broom appearance and small sized deformed leaves (in severe cases, leaves fade and fall.
Unfortunately, this year Downy Mildew razed hectares of vineyards in Portugal. Many of the affected producers had to do more treatments compared to previous years. With the strong appearance of this fungus, the wine harvest is in risk…
Let’s wait and see what happens, “fingers crossed”!
Cheers!
