Study Tour to Chile
Abstract
A paper was presented at the 7th International Workshop on Grapevine Truck Diseases (IWGTD) in Santa Cruz, Chile. The workshop provided the opportunity to exchange and discuss latest advances in grapevine trunk disease research with researchers from 17 different wine producing countries.
Summary
The 7th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases (7th IWGTD) took place at Santa Cruz Plaza Hotel, Santa Cruz, in the Colchagua Valley, Chile from the 17 to 21 January 2010. The 104 delegates from 17 grape growing countries presented and discussed the recent outcomes of grapevine trunk disease research. Authors presented their papers and posters over four sessions focusing on:
- Pathogen identification and characterisation
- Disease detection and loss
- Host-pathogen interaction and
- Disease Management (Chemical, Biological and/or cultural practices)
Presentations covered a range of pathogens associated with diseases and disease complexes leading to grapevine decline. Particular focus was given to fungi of the Botryosphaeriaceae, Diatrypaceae, Phaemoniella sp., Phaeoacraemonium spp., Phomopsis spp., Seimatosporium spp., Sorosphaera spp., and Cylindrocarpon spp. While similar to the previous IWDTD workshop conducted in France in 2008, the majority of presentations covered Botryosphaeria canker, Eutypa dieback, Esca and Petri disease. The 7th IWGTD also covered less prominent trunk disease pathogens such as Black foot, Young vine decline and Botryosphaeria bunch rot. The large abundance of presentations on the Botryosphaeriaceae highlighted the importance of this familyof pathogens to grapevines. The Botryosphaeriaceae fungi have noe been rocognised globally following their first association with Bot canker disease in 2003. This disease has been accepted and dealt with as one of the major concerns to established vineyards.