Wine-Grower-News #3

May 24, 2007

Information included in this issue includes:

Critical Period for Disease Control is Now
Grape Phylloxera
The Amazing Spittle Bug
What, No Soil Sample?
Consumer Direct Wine Shipments Up Dramatically
A Glass of Wine a Day Could Slow Dementia
Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff
 
Critical Period for Disease Control is Now
 
The period from immediate prebloom to 3-4 weeks after bloom is the most critical period to control fruit diseases by black rot, botrytis, powdery mildew and downy mildew. Fungicide protection during this period is critical. Black rot on the fruit should not be a problem beyond 4 weeks after bloom.  Although the fruit becomes resistant to powdery and downy mildews, the cluster stems (rachis) and leaves remain susceptible. Therefore, fungicide protection against powdery and downy mildew may be required though most of the growing season. Under wet conditions botrytis will infect withering flower parts between late bloom and bunch closing. Such latent infections then become a problem when the berries begin to ripen.
 
Summary: A timely fungicide spray program from mid-May to late June is critical for quality grape production in Iowa.  More information on  these diseases can be found here:
 
Black Rot: http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/grapes/diseases/grape_br.pdf
              http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3004.html
Botrytis: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3025.html
              http://www.grapes.msu.edu/botrytis.htm
Downy Mildew: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/705.pdf
              http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3013.html
Powdery Mildew: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3018.html
              http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/grapes/diseases/grape_pm.pdf
 
Grape Phylloxera
 
Grape phylloxera is a tiny insect that forms galls on leaf undersides and roots of grapevines. The root galls are deadly to vinifera grapes and require that vinifera grape plants be grafted onto American rootstock to survive.  This is the same pest that was inadvertently introduced to France from North America in 1860. By the end of the nineteenth century  it had destroyed two-thirds of the vineyards on the European continent, all self-rooted Vitis vinifera.
 
The foliar form of phylloxera is most prevalent on leaves of French-American hybrid grapevines. Most American and French-American hybrids can withstand the foliar galls produced by  foliar phylloxera. Most experts do not consider the foliar form of phylloxera causing economic damage. Though, some hybrids, like  Frontenac and Frontenac Gris being the worst along with Marechal Foch, St. Vincent, Seyval  and a few others seem to get hit unusually hard at times. The worst infestations often seem to occur on the vineyard edges, shady  areas or on poor producing soils.
Low vigor grapes will often exhibit the worst symptoms primarily due to less foliage being produced on the vine. Raised galls on the leaf undersides and tightly curled up leaves are the typical symptoms. Wild grapes growing near field edges are normally heavily infested and provide a source of infestation.  Heavy infestations by foliar phylloxera can cause leaf distortion, necrosis, and premature defoliation. Premature defoliation may delay ripening, reduce crop quality and predispose vines to winter injury.
 
There are currently three insecticides labeled for the foliar form of phylloxera in the Midwest.
 
                                                                 Approx.       Application
Product       Restricted Use    Rate/Ac   $/Ac           Timing___________     
 
Assail 30SG             NO             2.5 oz.     $17   Begin monitoring before bloom
                                                                                 & apply when galls appear.
Danitol 2.4 EC         Yes           10.7 oz     $15   Apply when galls first appear and
                                                                                  repeat application if needed
Endosulfan 50WP    NO             2 lbs.       $18    Apply at bloom and  again
Endosulfan  3EC      NO           1.33 qt.     $18         10-14 days later
____________________________________________________________
 
1. Grape Phylloxera, Ohio State Univ.: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2600.html
2. Grape Phylloxera,Univ. of Kentucky:
          http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef222.pdf
3. Grape Phylloxera, Oklahoma State Univ.:  
          http://www.ento.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/grapephylloxera.htm
 

 
The Amazing Spittle Bug
 
A few calls have already come in concerning Meadow
Spittle bugs on grapes.  These amazing little insects
are common on grasses, clovers and alfalfa. They will
suck a few juices, but not  enough to hurt your grapes.
No control is needed.
 
Spittle bugs actually hide themselves in a mass of
liquid bubbles called spittle. The spittle acts to hide
them from predators, protect them moisture loss and
provides thermal protection.
 
More info: http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/fieldcrops/insects/meadow_spittlebug/
 
What, No Soil Sample?
 
The grape planting season is just about done in Iowa.  Soon the calls will come in about how much fertilizer should be put on the newly planted vineyard. My normal reply is to ask what their soil test results showed prior to planting.  Most of the time the vineyard owner quickly recites the soil test results verbatim.  Sometimes all I hear is silence on the end of the phone. Then, “what soil test”?
 
Granted it is much easier to amend the soil if needed prior to planting than after. Soil testing later is better than never.  Knowing your soil fertility and pH will help guide your future management decisions. It needs to be done and this is how you do it.
 
You can go to any ISU County Extension office and get soil sample bags, forms, and often the soil sampling probe.  The samples can be sent into the ISU soil test lab for analysis or to a private lab.  We recommend soil testing for pH, organic matter, Phosphorus (P),  Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) and Zinc (Zn).  This ISU test will cost you $14.50 per sample analysis. Note on the ISU sample form to have Dr. Paul Domoto give you grape recommendations.  Just forward the soil sample results to Dr. Domoto at (Domoto@iastate.edu) for recommendations if you used a private soil test lab.
 
Here is how you take the sample:  Outline your vineyard area or multiple areas for larger vineyards and then probe the soil 12” - 16" deep at 20 random locations.  Divide each of the 20 soil cores in half and place into two soil sample bags labeled, (top) and (bottom).  Identify the sample number and depth on each bag. You should end up with 20 – 6” to 8”cores in each soil sample bag.  Further information and forms can be found at the ISU Soil Test Lab here: http://www.agron.iastate.edu/soiltesting/
 
Consumer Direct Wine Shipments Up Dramatically
(New Vine Logistics 5-10-7 Press Release)
 
New Vine Logistics of Napa, California is a leader in consumer direct and supply chain services for the wine industry. They introduced the findings of their Quarterly Consumer Direct Market Index at the MKF Research 2007 Wine Executive Summit in Yountville, California on May 3rd. Highlights of this report included:
 
            1. Direct to Consumer Wine Sales are increasing 3X faster than the general wine industry.
            2. Most of the increase is being driven by wine clubs and loyalty programs.
            3. Wine over $30/bottle dramatically dominate direct to consumer wine sales.
            4. California is the largest market for direct shipments.
            5.  The top leading states in 2006 growth rates for consumer direct shipments were
                        CA = 35.5%                MN = 32.8%               WA = 31.6%
                        IL = 22.5%                  TX = 22.7%
 
The entire press release can be found here: http://www.newvinelogistics.com/
 
A Glass of Wine a Day Could Slow Dementia
(DailyMail.co.uk 5-22-07)
 
Those who had up to one drink a day - mostly wine - developed dementia at an 85 per cent slower rate than people with mild cognitive impairment who never drank alcohol.  Research from the French wine region of Bordeaux showed people with the highest consumption of red wine reduced their risk of dementia by 45 per cent. Experts said the message was "little and often" for people wanting to protect their memory - as high levels of alcohol consumption can lead to dementia.  Check it out here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=456739&in_page_id=1774

Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff
 
            1. “Just Vineyards.com”  search for wineries using state, city or zip code. Is your
                   winery listed?  http://www.justvineyards.com/
            2.  “Pocket Guide for Grape Integrated Pest Management Scouting”in the North
                   Central and Eastern U.S., Michigan State University:
                    http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/GrapePocketPages.pdf
            3. WineFiles.org – Database for wine professionals and wine lovers:
                    http://www.winefiles.org/
            4. Pennsylvania Grape Pest Mgt Guide:
                    http://ipmguidelines.org/grapes/CH04/default.asp
 
Past issues archived here: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/newsletters/winegrowers.html


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