TESIS DOCTORAL - RiuNet - Universidad Politécnica de Valencia

Chapter 1
Among the grapevine trunk diseases, those associated with young grapevine
decline are Petri disease, black dead arm and black-foot disease. They have been
reported in most grapevine producing regions of the world and are responsible for the
decline of young vines, loss of productivity and young vine death (Oliveira et al., 2004;
Halleen et al., 2006a; Mostert et al., 2006; Gramaje and Armengol, 2011). Afterward,
each of these diseases will be listed and described separately, with the exception of
black-foot disease, which will be explained in more detail in a different section.
1.1.1.- Petri disease
Petri disease is a serious disease of grapevines which causes significant losses of
young vines in newly planted vineyards (Mostert el al., 2006). External symptoms
include stunted growth, reduced vigor, retarded or absent sprouting, shortened
internodes, sparse and chlorotic foliage with necrotic margins, wilting, and dieback
(Scheck et al., 1998b; Oliveira et al., 2004; Mostert et al., 2006; Luque et al., 2009).
Internal symptoms can normally be seen in the trunk and cordons. Dissected vines show
black spot when vines are cut transversally, and dark brown to black streaking when
trunks or shoots are cut longitudinally (Mostert et al., 2006), which is a result of tyloses,
gums, and phenolic compounds formed inside these vessels by the host in response to
the fungus growing in and around the xylem vessels (Mugnai et al., 1999). Root system
of declining vines also has less total root biomass and dry brown lesions on feeder roots
(Whiting et al., 2001).
The causal agents of this disease are Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (W. Gams,
Crous, M. J. Wingf. & L. Mugnai) Crous & W. Gams, as well as several species of
Phaeoacremonium W. Gams, Crous & M. J. Wingf. (Mugnai et al., 1999; Mostert et al.,
2006), Pm. aleophilum W. Gams, Crous, M. J. Wingf. & L. Mugnai, being the most
commonly isolated and studied species of this genus (Mostert et al., 2006). Several
Phialophora-like and Acremonium species have also been involved in the decline in
young vines, mainly species of the genus Cadophora Lagerberg & Melin (Overton et
al., 2005; Halleen et al., 2007b). Of those, Cadophora luteo-olivacea (F.H. Beyma)
Harrington & McNew has been recently shown to be quite common on grapevines
affected by fungal trunk pathogens in several viticulture areas worldwide (Navarrete et
al., 2011; Gramaje et al., 2011b). In addition, Pleurostomophora richardsiae (Nannf.)
L. Mostert, W. Gams & Crous (basionym: Ca. richardsiae Nannf.) has also been
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