Occurrence of Phaeoacremonium spp. and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora in grape propagation materials and young grapevines

During a 6-year study, grapevine propagation materials and young grapevines were analysed to evaluate the presence of internal wood discolouration and the occurrence of fungal species involved in Petri disease. The intensity of wood discolouration increased with the ageing of the plants. The maximum incidence of dark streaks was observed in the rootstock while necrosis originating from buds or nodes were notably present in the trunk and cordon of older vines. In contrast, the highest levels of brown-red halo symptoms, defined as discoloured areas around the pith, were recorded in the early growth stages. Phaeoacremonium spp. and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora were usually isolated from the rooted-grafts and the 3-year old plants, respectively. The number of infected grapevines increased with age. Most of the P. chlamydospora strains were isolated from dark streaks or dots, while Phaeoacremonium spp. were detected in brown-red halo symptoms and other symptomatic or asymptomatic wood. The greatest incidence of the two fungal taxa was recorded in the lower parts of the grapevine, including the roots and rootstock.