Association of Spores of «Phaeomoniella chlamydospora», «Phaeoacremonium inflatipes», and «Pm. aleophilum» with Grapevine Cordons in California

Abstract

Esca (black measles) of grapevine has long been known to occur wherever grapes are grown. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and two species of Phaeoacremonium, Pm. inflatipes and Pm. aleophilum, have been associated with esca and Petri grapevine decline in major production regions of California. Though present in symptomatic grapevines and capable of causing foliar symptoms of esca, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora does not cause the typical symptoms on fruit. However, trapping studies showed that spores of Pa. chlamydospora, Pm. inflatipes and Pm. aleophilum were captured throughout the year in vineyards ranging from the north California coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley. They can be considered airborne fungi capable of being water-splashed by pruning or other wounds during part of their biological cycle. Trapping of spores coincided with rainfall events for Pa. chlamydospora and Pm. inflatipes, and to a lesser degree for Pm. aleophilum. However, this last species was trapped during periods of time when rainfall did not occur and was trapped longer into the summer.