Virginia Grape Disease Updates

Just a quick note that recent rain events were risk events for downy mildew based on the NEWA DMCast model. It seems that northern VA received more and longer rain events. In addition, we may see more rain toward the end of next week. DMCast results at Crozet station (green cells indicate downy mildew infection events) DMCast results from Winchester station Since we have been experiencing a very dry season, I was not really thinking about downy mildew. However, during recent vineyard visits, I have noticed downy mildew on leaves, and sure enough, I saw some downy mildew lesions on leaves in one of my research blocks too. Early downy mildew lesions may not be very obvious. If you are due to spray soon, grow downy mildew susceptible cultivars (e.g., Chardonnay, Vidal, etc.), and/or have seen a considerable amount (or duration) of rain recently, it may be a good idea to include a Phos acid material (e.g., Prophyt, Phostrol, Agri-Fos, etc.) in the tank mix as insurance. Please note that if

Recent cooler weather seems to have slowed down vine development, but it looks like vines in the south are about to bloom. Bloom is a start of the critical time for cluster infections by downy mildew, powdery mildew, black rot, Botrytis, and ripe rot, because pathogens of these diseases can infect flower parts and develop symptoms later. What I recommend often is the use of protective materials to protect tissues for 4-6 weeks for V. vinifera varieties, and 3-4 weeks for V. labrusca varieties, which should translate into 3-4 sprays for V. vinifera , and 2-3 sprays for V. labrusca .  If you have hybrids, they are somewhere in between, so, 4-5 weeks to be protected.  As usual, please make sure to rotate mode of action (= FRAC) groups. Since we have not seen many rain events, I think powdery mildew will be the primary target for many of us. But please check your local weather to make sure, some downy mildew susceptible cultivars may still show downy mildew, especially, if there are many

Since the past winter was more or less steady and mild, in terms of temperature fluctuations, there are less likely that many of us saw the minimum temperature at 15F or lower. For example, at Winchester, we saw 14.5F on the 21st of February, and that's it for this winter. The risk of Pierce's disease will increase with a warmer winter. I.e., less than three nights with a minimum temperature of 15F or lower will decrease the risk of Pierce's disease.  Thus, especially people in the south and eastern part of the state may need to prepare for the management of sharpshooter leafhoppers, which are the vectors of Pierce's disease. Some growers in the eastern VA use insecticides for sharpshooter leafhoppers from May to June, so, I thought it is probably a good idea to sent out a reminder.  Entomology is not my area of expertise, thus, I will copy the information from our Pest Management Guide , page 8. In some vineyards in the eastern part of the state, sharpshooter leafhop