7th International Workshop for Grapevine Trunk Diseases, Chile
Abstract
Dr Mark Sosnowski travelled to Chile to attend the 7th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases to acquire the latest information on grapevine diseases, disseminate eutypa dieback research findings from Australia, develop and enhance international collaborations and promote a bid for Australia to host the 8th IWGTD in 2012.
Summary
Dr Mark Sosnowski was funded by Wine Australia and SARDI to travel to Chile to attend the 7th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases in Santa Cruz, Chile, 17-21 Jan 2010. This provided an excellent opportunity to gather information on recent developments in grapevine trunk disease research internationally. Meetings, visits and discussions with researchers from around the world, in particular Chile, have opened new doors for information exchange and collaboration as well as strengthening existing links and current collaborative research. Whilst in Chile, Dr Sosnowski also met with researchers at the University of Talca and the Catholic University of Chile to discuss grapevine research. The objectives of the travel were to; i) acquire the latest information on grapevine trunk diseases, ii) disseminate new knowledge from SARDI grapevine research, iii) develop and strengthen collaborative linkages with key international researchers and organisations, and iv) promote a bid for Australia to host the 8th IWGTD in 2012.
The IWGTD attracted 130 delegates from 17 countries, who presented 81 papers comprising research updates on Petri disease, esca, eutypa dieback, Botryosphaeria (Bot) canker and Cylindrocarpon black foot amongst other diseases. Presentations were grouped into pathogen identification and characterisation, disease detection and losses, host-pathogen interactions and disease management. Dr Sosnowski presented an overview of Australian research on eutypa dieback through oral and poster presentations and was invited to chair the disease management session at the workshop. As Regional Councilor for Australasia, he also attended the annual general meeting for the International Council for Grapevine Trunk Diseases.