Participation in the International Workshop on Grapevine Downy and Powdery Mildew

Abstract

Drs Eileen Scott, Katherine Evans and Bob Emmett participated in the 6th International Workshop on Grapevine Downy and Powdery Mildew in Bordeaux, France, 4-9 July 2010, and contributed to four presented papers. Overall, 50 papers and 26 posters were presented, covering new findings on the biology, epidemiology and management of the two diseases.

Summary

Powdery and downy mildew cause considerable losses to the Australian grape and wine industry, in terms of reduced yield and quality, as well as cost of management. Research activities and expenditure world-wide contribute to increasing our knowledge of these diseases. Knowledge of the biology of the pathogens, their effects on the grapevine and other aspects of epidemiology, such as ability to predict epidemics, underpins advances in disease management to reduce loss of yield and quality.

The International Grapevine Downy and Powdery Mildew Workshop, which occurs approximately every 3 years, is the main forum for the exchange of new information on grapevine mildews world-wide. It is important that Australian researchers participate to present their research and keep abreast of the latest research findings internationally. Of the 98 registered delegates, most were European but Australia, with 10 delegates and the USA with 7 were also well-represented. Delegates from China, Israel, Qatar and Tunisia brought new perspectives to the group. Three of the Australian delegates, Drs Bob Emmett (Department of Primary Industries Victoria), Katherine Evans (Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research) and Eileen Scott (University of Adelaide) received travel support from Wine Australia to attend the workshop. Bob Emmett and Peter Magarey (Magarey Plant Pathology) were members of the scientific organising committee for the meeting.

Sessions at the workshop addressed grape breeding and resistance (including induced resistance and ontogenic or age-related resistance), plant-pathogen interactions, pathogen biology (including population genetics), epidemiology (including detection, monitoring and modelling), economic impact and decision models, and disease management (including fungicides and biological control). In total, 50 verbal papers and 26 posters were presented, with ample opportunity for discussion and networking. Participants also visited the National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) field station at Latresne, near Bordeaux and viewed research on: (i) the relationship between plant growth and epidemics; (ii) the “Mildium” or “GrapeMildews” project, which aims to avoid yield loss rather than symptoms via strategic application of fungicides and monitoring to determine if additional sprays are required; (iii) new high quality disease resistant wine grapes. The group then visited a node of the “untreated plots network” in a commercial vineyard at Rauzan, Entre-Deux-Mers, Aquitaine. The network is designed to allow validation and improvement of disease forecasting models.