Spray deposition and control of botrytis cinerea on grape leaves and bunches : part 2 (wine grapes)
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Society for Enology and Viticulture
Abstract
Poor control of fruit and foliar diseases in vineyards is often attributed to insufficient spray deposition
of susceptible tissue. To optimise spray deposition, a deposition assessment protocol using fluorometry,
photomicrography and digital image analyses was developed to determine minimum spray deposition
quantity and quality levels needed for effective B. cinerea control in wine grapes (Chenin blanc). Leaves
and bunches were sprayed at different growth stages with different volumes of a mixture of fenhexamid
and fluorescent pigment. Pigment deposition quantity and quality were determined from photos of pedicels
and leaves taken with a digital camera under a stereo microscope and black light illumination at ×30 and
×10 magnification, respectively. After inoculation with dry airborne conidia of B. cinerea infection levels on
pedicels, receptacles and leaves were determined and infection levels and deposition data were subjected to
sigmoidal and Hoerl regression analyses, respectively. From these biological efficacy curves the deposition
levels that affected 75% control of B. cinerea infection (FPC75 values) were calculated for leaves and for
each growth stage for pedicels and receptacles. Deposition measurements on sprayed leaves and bunch
parts correlated favourably with Botrytis infection levels. An increase in spray volume resulted in higher
deposition quantity and improved quality values with a reduction of B. cinerea infections. However, at a
certain point, deposition quality remained constant and infection levels did not decrease significantly with
increasing spray volume. Susceptibility of pedicels and receptacles to B. cinerea decreased with maturity.
FPC75 values can be used as benchmarks to evaluate spray application in wine grape vineyards.
Description
CITATION: Brink, J. C., Calitz, F. J. & Fourie, P. H. 2016. Spray deposition and control of botrytis cinerea on grape leaves and bunches : part 2 (wine grapes). South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 37(2):157-168, doi:10.21548/37-2-1061.
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
Keywords
Botrytis cinerea infection, Grapes -- Diseases and pests, Botrytis cinerea -- Control, Flourescent pigment, Spray deposition -- Quantity spray deposition -- Quality
Citation
Brink, J. C., Calitz, F. J. & Fourie, P. H. 2016. Spray deposition and control of botrytis cinerea on grape leaves and bunches : part 2 (wine grapes). South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 37(2):157-168, doi:10.21548/37-2-1061