subject: Growing Grapes at Home - Common Diseases [print this page] Growing Grapes at Home - Common Diseases Growing Grapes at Home - Common Diseases
There are many varieties of grapes to select from; there are grapes that go well with just about any type of weather. However, just like any plant, growing grapes athome can also be susceptible to diseases. Most are caused by fungi and bacteria.
One common disease that affects growing grapes is downy mildew, and this is caused by the fungus Plasmopara viticola. It is common for this mildew to cause major yield loss. Downy mildew prevents grapes from ripening by covering the leaves and fruits with white fungus. Another fungal disease of grapevines is black rot. This is one of the most widespread diseases and can result in around a 20 percent loss in yield.
One bacterial disease that affects grapes is the crown gall, which affects the root and stem of the plants. Another disease of grapevines is Pierce's disease. This disease results in yellowing and scorching of the leaves, which can be deadly to the plants. Another disease caused by Xylophilus ampelinus is a Bacterial blight. These bacteria can infect the plant through wounds caused by grafting. The signs on leaves are small black spots with minor necrosis. Eutypa Dieback of grapes is caused by the fungus Eutypa lata. This fungus lives in ailing wood. Eutypa dieback defers the buds appearance, causes yellowing, and inhibits the growth of leaves.
The main means of transmission of grapevine disease is by passage or breeding of infected vines. Since most bacteria grow on wounds of plants, grafting can also cause the disease to start or spread. In addition, a lot of of the bacteria that harm grapevines can also infect other plants and weeds, so it is important to frequently observe the growing plants for signs and symptoms of distress. Prevention of disease proliferation in the grapevine is vital; once the bacteria or fungi is evident in the field, it is very difficult to eradicate.
As a gardener growing grapes at home, you need to be aware of these common diseases and their symptoms for easy prevention and, in case they have already infected your plot, so you can promptly remove the infected vine. This will prevent the disease from spreading to other vines in your vineyard.
