Prevalence and pathogenicity of fungi associated with grapevine trunk diseases in Chilean vineyards

Trunk diseases in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) have been identified as a major problem in the wine and table grape industries around the world, reducing the productivity, quality and longevity of vineyards. The present study examined 694 wood samples from the cordons and trunks of vines with trunk disease symptoms in 67 Chilean vineyards located between Copiapo (27 degrees 18'S) and Los Angeles (37 degrees 42'S). A total of 1,363 fungal isolates were obtained from diseased cordons and trunks with dark brown streaking, yellowish soft-spongy cankers and brown hard V-shaped cankers. Using molecular identification, a total of 12 fungal genera were identified in Chile at varying frequencies: Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (85%); Botryosphaeriaceae (56%) including Diplodia mutila, D. seriata, Neofusicoccum parvum and Spencermartinsia viticola; Inocutis sp. (47%); Diatrypaceae (Cryptovalsa ampelina and Eutypella leprosa) (4.8%); Seimatosporium botan (1.7%); Phomopsis viticola (0.4%); Cylindrocarpon sp. (0.4%); and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (0.2%). All species were pathogenic, inducing dark brown streaking on various aged grapevine wood tissue. In conclusion, several fungal species are associated with grapevine trunk diseases in the Chilean vineyards being Pa. chlamydospora, D. seriata and Inocutis sp. the most frequent isolated species. These are pathogens that can be found alone or they can coexist in the same plant. This is the first report of Pho. viticola associated with trunk diseases in Chile.