RESOLUTION VITI 2/2006

MEASURES USED TO PREVENT OR LIMIT THE PROLIFERATION OF WOOD DISEASES

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

UPON THE PROPOSAL of Commission I Viticulture, after examining the serious problems linked to dieback vine diseases produced by wood fungi penetrating generally through pruning injuries,

CONSIDERING that various fungus responsible for different pathologies like Eutypiose, Esca, Black Dead Arm, Diplodia cane dieback, bunch rot, Hora de malvone, etc., have been identified in most vine growing regions throughout the world,

CONSIDERING that players in the viticulture world are not very familiar with the symptomatology induced by these diseases, and that this symptomatology is often little known and confusing.

CONSIDERING that, at the present time, there are no remedial measures sufficiently effective,

CALLS FOR the identification of diseases specific to various vine growing regions throughout the world, to start or to intensify research on the biology and epidemiology of the relevant fungi, in order to use this acquired knowledge in fungus prevention and  control,

RECOMMENDS to the viticultural countries to develop techniques for detection and identification of wood fungus in particular for multiplication material and to adopt and recommend the following prophylactic measures:

• At planting and at the formation of vine stocks,
  • ensure good vineyard drainage,
  • check solidity at the grafting area,
  • during trunk formation and during successive years, favour early crown suckering when green over the elimination of vine shoots in winter avoiding pruning close to the old wood 
• Avoid growing practices which increase the number and the size of the pruning wounds
• Decrease and prevent risks
  • Remove vine stocks and old branches from the vineyard and, if possible, burn or compost them,
  • Eliminate the piles of vine trunks located near the vineyards,
  • In the case of Esca and Botryosphaeriases dispose of the affected vine shoots, under no conditions, should these vine shoots be dispersed in the vineyard
  • Pruning preferably during the dry period or in ascending sap.
• Restore diseased vine plants:
  • On high vines carry out rejuvenation, or reattachment making sure that   the conserved part of the trunk is not affected by necrosis.
• Protect pruning wounds: 
  • Use authorised specialities
• Rationalise and improve the mechanisation of cultural practices in the vineyard.