Virus Diseases of Grapes
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Virus diseases (leafroll disease, corky bark, ringspot decline, red blotch) are caused by a range of different viruses. Symptoms vary from vine stunting and decline to irregular or deformed leaves or poor yields. Most viruses are transmitted by insect vectors and/or grafting of infected wood. There have been no confirmed cases of virus diseases in Kentucky during the past 20 years. However, leafroll disease (caused by Grape Leafroll-Associated Viruses GLRaV-1 and/or GLRaV-10) has been reported in V. vinifera cultivars in nurseries from the Eastern U.S. Ringspot virus decline (caused by either or both TRSV and TomRSV) is becoming more prevalent in the U.S., especially in the highly susceptible cultivar ‘Vidal Blanc.’ Risk for introduction of virus diseases is primarily via new plant introductions.
Grapevine yellows and leaf roll.
(Photo: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org)
Fanleaf virus.
(Photo: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org)
Management:
- Begin with clean plant material, preferably indexed stock.
- Practice proper sanitation (remove and destroy infected vines).
- Resistant rootstocks are recommended for ringspot-susceptible cultivars.
