«In situ» Sporulation of «Phaemoniella chlamydospora» in the Vineyard

Abstract

The fungus Phaeomoniella chlamydospora causes black goo decline of grapevines and is associated with esca, but little is known about its epidemiology. Sporulation was rarely observed on transversely-cut surfaces of naturally-infected roostocks and cordons of ten-year-old ‘Pinot Noir’ on ‘Ramsey’ grown near Geelong, Australia, over the winter months of 2000. However, abundant sporulation of the hyphomycete and pycnidial synanamorphs of P. chlamydospora were observed on protected wood surfaces inside deep cracks at the trial site. Sporulation in cracks was also observed on several grapevine varieties from other regions of south eastern Australia. Collembolans and mites were usually associated with the sporulation, but it is not known whether they have a role in dissemination of conidia.