Project Number: 5306-21220-005-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Mar 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 31, 2013

Objective:
1. Develop sustainable disease control practices for grapevines. [NP 303, C3, PS3B] 2. Develop sustainable vineyard floor management practices for vineyards. [NP 305, C1, PS1B.1] 3. Develop sustainable water management practices for vineyards. [NP 305, C1, PS1B.1] 4. Investigate the impacts of vineyard practices on soil microbial ecology. [NP 305, C1, PS1B.1]

Approach:
1. Characterize the infection process of grapevine roots by the fungal pathogen Armillaria mellea, the causal agent of Armillaria root disease; Characterize the significance of riparian areas in the spread of Pierce's disease. 2. Identify differences in regional populations of Conyza canadensis, cover crops that effectively compete with C. canadensis, and the effects of soil resource availability on competition between cover crops and C. canadensis; Identify cover crops that effectively compete wtih problematic weeds. 3. Evaluate the interactive effects of irrigation practices and vineyard floor management practices on grapevine yield, growth, physiology, and nutrition. 4. Examine the effect of cover crop functional type on soil microbial communities and microbially-mediated soil processes; Characterize rhizosphere communities associated with Vitis rootstocks; Examine the impacts of vineyard floor practices on mycorrhizae. REPLACING 5306-21220-004-00D (03/12); 5306-21220-003-00D (01/07)