Trunk Diseases

trunk diseases, group of fungal diseases that infect the wood of the vine and other perennial crops primarily through pruning wounds. They are caused by Ascomycete and, to a lesser extent, Basidiomycetes fungi. Grapevine trunk diseases affect both young and mature vineyards and occur wherever grapes are grown.

In young vineyards, black foot and petri disease are the most prevalent and devastating of these diseases, constituting what is currently known as the young vine decline complex, which can be observed as early as a few months after planting. Though spread of these diseases can occur in the vineyard, one of the main sources of infection is compromised plant material since it has been well demonstrated that fungi responsible for causing young vine decline can be introduced to the grapevine propagation process in nurseries from infected mother vines.