Management and diagnosis of grapevine trunk disease in vineyards and nurseries

Project details

Status: Current

TIA is collaborating with the South Australian Research and Development Institute on a national grapevine trunk disease project.

The research is focusing on how trunk diseases behave in Tasmania’s cool climate.

The cause of trunk diseases

There are two main fungal pathogens which cause trunk diseases and both are becoming more of a concern for aging vineyards, including in Tasmania.

Tasmanian trials

The Tasmanian aspect of this project includes grapevine inoculation trials with both of these pathogens, followed by assessment of disease development.

Through these trials the team is attempting to understand the susceptibility of pruning wounds of grapes to trunk disease.

Specifically, they will look at how the timing of pruning impacts the risk. For example, is it better from a disease management perspective to prune in early, mid, or late winter?

The Tasmanian trials will combine with trials being led in NSW, WA and SA to give a national picture of how trunk disease differs by region and climate.