Grape tendrils as an inoculum source of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> in vineyards a review

Abstract

Botrytis cinerea is a fungus responsible for considerable damage to a wide range of crops worldwide including grapes Botrytis bunch rot caused by B cinerea is the major disease problem that must be managed by the New Zealand wine industry each season However the fungus is not easily managed as it can be both necrotrophic and saprophytic with a range of overwintering inoculum sources New Zealand grape growers have asked whether it is necessary to remove tendrils at the time of pruning in order to minimise botrytis bunch rot infection at harvest This review provides a summary of the information currently available on the importance of tendrils in the epidemiology of botrytis bunch rot under New Zealand conditions Gaps in knowledge and areas for further investigation are also identified