Expression of grapevine leaf stripe disease foliar symptoms in four cultivars in relation to grapevine phenology and climatic conditions

Abstract

Grapevine leaf stripe disease (GLSD) symptom expression was analysed in four vineyards and four cultivars, in Sardinia (Italy), taking into account ten-year annual and five-year monthly surveys. The cumulative incidence of symptomatic plants reached high values on Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet sauvignon and Cannonau (81.9, 79.4 and 66.5% respectively), but low on Merlot (25.1%). Symptoms appeared during or before the 50% flowering stage and maximum increments were assessed in June and partially in July. Annual incidence of foliar symptoms fluctuated in the ten years of the survey. Positive regressions were found between incidence of vines that exhibited foliar symptoms in year n but were symptomless in year n-1 and rain parameters in the 30 days after stabilization of mean temperature around 10°C, when colonization of pruning wounds begins. This relationship could suggest the involvement of new infections or re-infections on symptom expression in the following growth season. Significant regressions between incidence of vines that exhibited foliar symptoms in year n but were symptomless in the year n+1 and climatic parameters were also recorded. High temperatures and low rainfall in the period from pre-flowering to veraìson were conducive to a higher number of asymptomatic plants. Regarding monthly foliar symptoms evolution, an increase in temperature from 50% sprouting until June led to a greater number of new symptomatic plants. On the other hand, a smaller percentage of new symptomatic plants was associated with an increase in temperature from June to July, which may have influenced vine water balance and transport of toxins by the sap flow.