Trunk disease management workshop “Understanding the big picture”
Abstract
Trunk disease management workshop "Understanding the big picture"
Summary
Trunk diseases have been identified in many viticultural regions in Australia, however little information is available on their impact on grapevines in NSW. The grape and wine industries in regions such as the Upper and Lower Hunter Valley and Mudgee are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact that these diseases may have on the long term productivity and sustainability of vineyards. Concerns have also been raised regarding the increased stresses imposed on vines and whether this plays a role in predisposing them to infection by these diseases. An understanding of the effects of these diseases is needed to enhance current best practice for sustainable grape production.
Two workshops were held on Trunk disease management “Understanding the big picture”, in the Upper Hunter Valley and Mudgee wine regions. Information was presented on Petri disease (Black goo), Esca, Eutypa dieback and Botryosphaeria (Bot) canker and dieback.
Approximately 140 grape and wine industry personnel attended the workshops held in the last week of May at Rosemount Estate in Denman and approximately 65 attendees were present at the Rural Education Centre in Mudgee. The workshop presenters were Drs George Leavitt (expert farm advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension Service), Daryl Joyce and Jacky Edwards (Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, CRCV program 2.2.1) Mark Sosnowski (South Australian Research and Development Institute), Sandra Savocchia (National Wine and Grape Industry Centre) and Vera Sergeeva (NSW Agriculture). The workshops were chaired by Tony Somers in Denman and Clarrie Beckingham in Mudgee, both district viticulturists with NSW Agriculture. Daryl Joyce, Jacky Edwards and Mark Sosnowski are members of CRCV program 2.2.1, “Managing grapevine trunk diseases”. Support from the industry associations including the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association, Upper Hunter Winemakers Association and the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association allowed both regions to benefit form the workshop and associated farm visits. It also provided experts working in the field of Trunk Diseases to exchange ideas and forge further cooperative links as well as give growers practical suggestions on management.