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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168418
Title: EFFICACY OF VESTA(R) AS AN ORGANIC SOIL INOCULANT FOR CONTROL OF ARMILLARIA ROOT DISEASE OF GRAPEVINES

Author
item Warnock, Amy
item Baumgartner, Kendra

Submitted to: American Society of Enology and Viticulture Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2004
Publication Date: 6/29/2004
Citation: Warnock, A.E., Baumgartner, K. 2004. Efficacy of vesta(r) as an organic soil inoculant for control of armillaria root disease of grapevines. American Society of Enology and Viticulture Annual Meeting Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary: The objective of our research is to determine efficacy of Vesta (Biologically Integrated Organics, Inc., Fresno, CA), an organic soil inoculant, for control of Armillaria root disease of infected grapevines. In 2003, we initiated a field experiment in two Armillaria-infested North Coast vineyards. Vesta was applied to entire vineyard rows via the drip-irrigation system. Nontreated rows received water. Healthy and symptomatic vines were randomly selected within treated and nontreated rows for data collection. Treatment efficacy was assessed in terms of improvements in yield and growth parameters of vines that received Vesta . As we previously found that symptomatic vines with Armillaria root disease have significantly fewer clusters, lower yields, lower cluster weights, and lower pruning weights than healthy vines, we assume that increases in these parameters among vines treated with Vesta demonstrate treatment efficacy. Vesta was applied four times during the growing season. Vesta increased yields and cluster weights of symptomatic vines in one of two vineyards examined. Treated, symptomatic vines maintained the same high cluster weights as healthy vines. Analysis of soil nutrition among data vines showed that vines treated with Vesta had significantly higher N, C, and CEC. Enhanced soil nutrition, increased populations of antagonistic soil microbes, or improved water relations may contribute to efficacy of Vesta .

Technical Abstract: The objective of our research is to determine efficacy of Vesta (Biologically Integrated Organics, Inc., Fresno, CA), an organic soil inoculant, for control of Armillaria root disease of infected grapevines. In 2003, we initiated a field experiment in two Armillaria-infested North Coast vineyards. Experimental treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with Vesta treatment as the mainplot and vine status as the subplot. Vesta was applied to entire vineyard rows via the drip-irrigation system. Nontreated rows received water. Healthy and symptomatic vines were randomly selected within treated and nontreated rows for data collection. Treatment efficacy was assessed in terms of improvements in yield and growth parameters of vines that received Vesta . As we previously found that symptomatic vines with Armillaria root disease have significantly fewer clusters, lower yields, lower cluster weights, and lower pruning weights than healthy vines, we assume that increases in these parameters among vines treated with Vesta demonstrate treatment efficacy. Vesta was applied at bud break, anthesis, 15% veraison, and 80% veraison. Vesta increased yields (P = 0.0757) and cluster weights (P = 0.0177) of symptomatic vines in one of two vineyards examined. Treated, symptomatic vines maintained the same high cluster weights as healthy vines. Analysis of soil nutrition among data vines showed that vines treated with Vesta had significantly higher % N (P = 0.0306), % C (P = 0.035), and CEC (P = 0.021). Enhanced soil nutrition, increased populations of antagonistic soil microbes, or improved water relations may contribute to efficacy of Vesta.