Fungal pathogens associated with grapevine trunk diseases in young vineyards in Sicily

After the first report of grapevine decline caused by Botryosphaeriaceae in Sicily in 2007, epidemiological studies carried out in mature vineyards until 2011 confirmed the widespread occurrence of “Botryosphaeria dieback” and the “Esca complex” disease. Dieback symptoms were also recently observed in two young vineyards in Partanna and Castellammare del Golfo in western Sicily (Trapani province). Declining vines were inspected for grapevine trunk disease (GTD) symptoms, and were uprooted and submitted for analyses. Fungal isolates were collected and identified using culturing and molecular analyses. One isolate per identified species was inoculated to three grapevine shoots to evaluate pathogenicity and fulfil Koch’s postulates. Several GTD Botryosphaeriaceae pathogens in the genera Cadophora, Ilyonectria, Neonectria, Phaeoacremonium and Phaeomoniella were isolated from the symptomatic young vines. Artificial inoculation confirmed the pathogenicity of these fungi. In addition, virulence variability was observed among the isolates, with P. chlamydospora causing the largest lesions. The different species were associated with specific symptoms and/or host vine parts, especially in the roots and around the grafting areas. Several fungi associated with Petri disease and black foot were shown to be responsible of young vine decline.