grape disease?

16 years ago

Any ideas/suggestions?

My grapes don't grow very long without suffering from some sort of wilting/stunted growth problem. I planted this vine in Feb 2006, and it started out very nicely. Late in the summer, all the leaves started wilting. New leaves were stunted. This year, it came out nicely, but started wilting in early June.

The same thing has happened to two other vines I've planted. One died the 2nd year, the other looks just like this one (3rd year).

In the 'undeveloped' brush, I've got 3 or 4 massive muscadine vines. They are as much as 6" in diameter. I suspect these provide disease vectors.

This is what it looks like now:

{{gwi:118567}}

Here is what it looked like in June of last year, I had planted it in Feb.

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Comments (4)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
16 years ago
Probably is Pierce's disease. This is a very serious killer of grapevines spread by leaf hoppers. Muscadines are resistant. There are a few grape varieties from Florida that are resistant. But the best advice would be to plant Muscadines if you like them. If it is Pierce's there is no control.

The Fruitnut
joebok
Original Author
16 years ago
OK, PD looks like the issue.

I'll see if I can get in touch with Dr. Ramming.

My local source carries Black Spanish, Blanc Du Bois, mustang grape and cowart muscadine, all should have PD resistance.

I've looked at Ison's website. They have many more muscadines.

At this point, I would simply like to prove I can grow a healthy grape that my family will enjoy eating. The wild muscadines don't qualify.
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jellyman
16 years ago
your trees:

It might be better to try to prove you can grow something else that your family will enjoy eating. Muscadine grapes have their partisans, but they are an acquired taste and very unlike the table grapes your family may be accustomed to from the supermarket. At least you should try to find some muscadine grapes to try before you make a commitment to plant.

I stopped trying to grow table grapes here entirely because of disease issues, and keep a Concord vine only for jellymaking. Sometimes it is better to switch than fight.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
joebok
Original Author
16 years ago
After posting, the leaves continued to brown. Around August 1st I thought the vine dead and mowed it down. To my surprise, a few weeks later, I discovered it growing back. It is as if there was something on vine that was the problem and when I cut it back, the plant was free to grow.

{{gwi:118570}}