Like any other plant species, grapevine is exposed to environmental influences, diseases and pests. There are several grapevine pests and diseases around the world. One of the most destructive vine pests in history was Grape phylloxera, which has damaged and destroyed several European vineyards. It came to Europe from North America in the late 1850s. Since American vines were resistant to those pests, winegrowers solved the problem by grafting European vines to American vines. Today, European-American grafting is planted all over Europe.
Some of the most common grapevine diseases and pests around the world are listed below.
Fungal diseases
Fungal diseases are the largest group of plant pathogens. After infection, they spread around with the wind, rain, insects, and other organisms. Signs of infection by fungi are freckles, necrosis, mould covering, rotting, and withering. The most common fungal grape diseases are: downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold, dead arm, and black rot.
Phytoplasma, virus and virus-like diseases
Phytoplasmas are, according to the cell structure, similar to bacteria. They live in plant phloem tissue. Viruses are microscopic pathogens living inside the living cells. After entering into the vines, they spread into all underground and above-ground plant parts. Viruses are transmitted through vectors – insects, mites and nematodes. Changes that appear in the case of virus and phytoplasma diseases are changes in the shape, size, and colour of the lamina, as well as changes in the vine shoot and clusters. Some of the most known phytoplasma vine diseases are: Flavescence dorée (FD), Bois Noir (BN), Grape leaf rust mite and Grapevine yellows (GY). The most common virus vine diseases are Feanleaf virus (GFLV) and Leafroll (GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2, …).
Bacterial diseases
Bacteria are simple single-celled organisms that grow rapidly. They penetrate into the vines through natural openings of vines or through vine wounds. The most common signs of bacterial infections are inflammation of the tissues and the formation of cancer wounds. The most known bacterial vine diseases are Happy disease, Crown gall and Pierce’s disease.
Pests
Various pests jeopardise vines, but only some are responsible for economic losses. Most of them are insects, and in the least cases also mites and nematodes. Pests are causing direct and indirect damage. They eat underground and above-ground vine organs and are transmitters of fungal, virus and phytoplasma diseases. Pests that threaten grapevine are butterflies, cicadas, scale insects, aphids, thrips, beetles, mites, etc. One of the most dangerous cicadas for a grapevine is the American grapevine leafhopper transmitter of Flavescence dorée.grapevine is American grapevine leafhopper transmitter of Flavescence dorée.
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Different manuals for winegrowing
2 responses to “Most common grapevine pests around the world”
I have had something going on with my grape leaves this year since about may.
I’ve asked two master gardeners and nobody can give me any idea of what it is or how if possible to treat it.
The leaves have been turning yellow in spots and then dry up and fall off. I was hoping to attach a couple of pictures but this would not let me.
Hello Tony, yes, unfortunately, comments don’t allow uploading attachment. Based on what you have written, I believe it could be Downy Mildew, however, also Measles, Pierce’s Disease, spider mites, or Nutritional Deficiencies can cause yellow leaves.