Rugose Wood

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About

rugose wood, a complex of four virus diseases which comprises Rupestris stem pitting (RSP), Kober stem grooving (grapevine vitivirus A or GVA), corky bark (grapevine vitivirus B or GVB), and LN33 stem grooving (LNSG). Additionally, grapevine vitiviruses C and D have been been identified but they have not yet been shown to cause disease in grapevines.

Although widespread, this complex of diseases is relatively unknown as all but corky bark are generally symptomless on Vitis vinifera. Rugose wood induces graft incompatibility and can kill the vines, especially in the first years after planting. Typical symptoms are pitting or grooving of the wood. All four diseases can be identified by indexing. The effect on wine quality of these diseases is still to be evaluated.