Winery owners and gardeners alike can relate to the pains associated with grape production. While grapes are a wonderful crop to grow, they are also very vulnerable to disease. Without any type of pest management system, grape crops are likely to suffer severe damage. However, far too many growers incorrectly identify the disease present on the grape crop. In these cases, it is impossible for the growers to accurately treat the infection. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for winery owners and gardeners to maintain a thorough understanding of the most common types of grape diseases.

A variety of elements will determine the severity of the disease and the most advantageous path to treatment. Each year will bring new conditions and factors that will likely alter the best course of treatment for your grape crop. The following aspects will directly affect the pest management system in your vineyard:

• Weather conditions
• Quantity of the pathogen
• Variety of grapes

After understanding how the above elements will alter your treatment plan, growers must gain a basic understanding of the most likely diseases to penetrate your winery. The following are the most common types of diseases that attack grapes:

• Downy Mildew
• Powdery Mildew
• Black Rot
• Grey Mold
• Anthracnose
• Crown Gall

The mildews and molds are triggered by fungi that attacks the grape berries and thus reduces their quantity and yield. Crown gall, on the other hand, is initiated by a bacterium that can potentially kill the plant. As usual, recognizing these diseases early is paramount to effectively eliminating them. Monitoring seasonal fluctuations and specific populations of pests will prove to be beneficial to the success of the harvest.