A review of Phaeoacremonium Species Involved in Petri Disease and Esca of Grapevines

Abstract

The current status of Phaeoacremonium species involved in Petri disease and esca is reviewed. The taxonomical position and classification of Phaeoacremonium as well as its teleomorph, Togninia, are discussed. The review also provides the currently known distribution and host range of Phaeoacremonium species. The epidemiology of Phaeoacremonium species together with the more commonly isolated Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, is also treated. An overview is given of the molecular methods that have been used thus far to identify and detect the fungi involved in Petri disease. The role that Phaeoacremonium species, and the morphologically closely related pathogen Pa. chlamydospora, play in disease development and the results obtained with pathogenicity trials are also discussed. Lastly, an overview is given of the effect of management strategies on the Phaeoacremonium species associated with Petri disease and esca.