Evaluation of fungicides to control Petri disease pathogens in the grapevine propagation process

The efficacy of fourteen selected fungicides against Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum was evaluated in vitro by mycelial growth and conidial germination assays. Azoxystrobin, carbendazim and tebuconazole were the most effective fungicides against P. chlamydospora, while carbendazim and didecyldimethylammonium chloride were the most effective against P. aleophilum. An assay was also conducted with cubiet, hydroxyquinoline sulphate and didecyldimethylammonium chloride to determine their potential to prevent infections caused by these pathogens during the hydration stage in grapevine propagation. The results of this experiment demonstrated that P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum were able to infect healthy cuttings during the hydration stage and showed that didecyldimethylammonium chloride was consistently the best treatment as a disinfectant soak for grapevine cuttings. Additionally, semi-commercial trials were conducted in two grapevine nurseries to evaluate the effectiveness of several strategies with carbendazim, flusilazole and hydroxyquinoline sulphate at different nursery stages. Soaking planting material in carbendazim during the hydration stage was the most effective treatment since neither P. chlamydospora nor P. aleophilum were isolated from planting material in either nursery. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.