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Sudden Vine Collapse Research Presented in Lodi
10-Oct-19
Ted Rieger, WineBusiness.com

Since 2011, growers in the Lodi AVA have observed vines on Freedom rootstock suddenly dying without an identifiable cause. Dr. Maher Al Rwahnih, Laboratory and Research Director at Foundation Plant Services, presented research results on this sudden vine collapse at the Lodi Winegrape Commission meeting held on October 1. High throughput sequencing results of 24 symptomatic samples show infection with one or more viruses. In addition, testing on the same vines conducted by Dr. Akif Eskalen, UC Davis plant pathologist and UC Cooperative Extension specialist, showed no single fungal pathogen was consistently found among the vine samples. These research results suggest sudden vine collapse is associated with a combination of virus pathogens and certain rootstocks appear more sensitive. This lethal virus-induced rootstock decline associated with a mixed infection of certain vitiviruses and grapevine leafroll associated viruses has been previously documented.  For full details on the research presented, please visit the Wine Business Monthly article at: https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=220522.