Lasiodiplodia dieback of grapevine

Pathogen and disease type. Lasiodiplodia viticola is a pathogenic fungus belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family. It is a well-known causal agent of grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs), specifically characterized by the progressive decay of woody tissues, which prevents the proper transport of water and nutrients within the plant.

Host plants. The primary host for Lasiodiplodia viticola is the common grapevine (Vitis vinifera). While it is most frequently associated with vineyard problems, the fungus can occasionally be found on other woody plants, but its impact is most economically devastating in commercial viticulture worldwide.

Symptoms and signs. Infected vines typically exhibit symptoms such as wedge-shaped necrosis visible on the cross-section of the trunk or cordons. Externally, the disease presents as sudden wilting of shoots during the growing season, stunted growth, and the gradual dieback of canes, arms, or the entire vine, often accompanied by dark, sunken lesions on the wood surface.

Environmental conditions and impact. The pathogen thrives in moderate temperatures and moist environments. Spores are primarily dispersed by wind and rain, infecting the plant through wounds caused by winter pruning, mechanical harvesting, or frost damage. The economic impact is severe, as the disease reduces fruit yield, shortens the productive lifespan of the vineyard, and eventually results in the total death of the vine.

Protection and prevention. Because there is no chemical cure for systemic wood infections, management focuses on prevention.

• Sourcing clean, pathogen-free nursery stock for new plantations.
• Strict sanitation protocols, including the sterilization of pruning tools with bleach or alcohol between vines.
• Applying protective wound sealants or fungicides to pruning cuts to block fungal entry.
• Systematic removal and destruction of dead or symptomatic vines to reduce the overall inoculum pressure in the vineyard.