Sustaining grapevines infected with eutypa dieback (GTD)

This project developed practical and efficient methods for eutypa dieback control, determined the effect of environmental and production stresses, evaluated remedial surgery treatment for sustaining grapevines and established the presence and extent of eutypa dieback in emerging grapegrowing regions. A number of paints, pastes, fungicides and natural products were identified as effective pruning wound treatments to control eutypa dieback. Conventional spray machinery was found to be an effective means of applying fungicide to protect pruning wounds. The susceptibility of vines to eutypa dieback was influenced by water and temperature stress and deficit irrigation was shown to increase susceptibility of vines in warm, dry climates. Removal of infected wood by remedial surgery was shown to be an effective strategy to manage eutypa dieback, but success of this technique relies on removal of all infected wood. This strategy avoids long-term economic losses in affected vineyards and on-going maintenance will ensure good economic returns. Vineyard surveys revealed that eutypa
dieback is wide-spread in emerging regions of South Australia, and in Tasmania, but was not detected in Western Australia. The surveys serve as a warning to grape growers to adopt control strategies to avoid production loss and increase the sustainability of grapevines.