Like every living thing, the vine – the fruit-bearing plant of the grape – is also exposed to various diseases. To prevent both the vineyard and its production suffer, there are some care tasks: treatments against pests and fungi, or more material actions such as the coating of the clusters with brown paper.

However, this does not make it immune. Therefore, you have to be constantly alert and see how the vineyard evolves. The most common fungal diseases are excoriosis, oidium, botrytis, mildew and black-rot.

Excoriosis

It is produced by the fungus xiolophagus and affects all the green parts of the plant. In fact, the most affected areas are the trunk and the arms. We can detect this disease if we see dark black circular spots around it, from mangoes to clusters. To avoid excoriosis, sulfur, soluble or powdered is often used.

Oidium

Known by various names, such as ash, dust or bleach, this disease is caused by a fungus that winters in the plant and attacks everywhere, from the branches to the bark. As its denominations anticipate, we identify that the plant has oidium if a white dusty ash is observed. Dark spots also appear, growing and darkening even more over time. Like excoriosis, the way to eradicate this disease is to use sulfur treatments, in this case in dusting.

Botrytis

This disease, caused by the pathogenic fungus Brotytis cinerea, affects the green organs of the vine, significantly reducing the harvest -from the quality of the grapes to the quantity of clusters-.

In the sector, it is also called gray mold, which gives us a hint of how it manifests: in the branches, elongated brown spots appear that are eventually covered with a gray hairpiece; the cluster has a similar shape, with brown spots that eventually turn into greyish mold and end up rotting the fruit. To cure the plant, you need pest control, ranging from green mosquito to cluster moths, all of which helps prevent the spread of the fungus.

Mildew

Produced by the fungus Plasmopara viticola, this disease mainly affects the leaves of the plant. In fact, its symptoms are very evident: yellowish or reddish spots as with an oily texture and angular shape; and also appear white spores. As in all fungal diseases, the solution is through the use of systemic and penetrating products.

Black-rot

This disease, caused by the fungus Guignardia bidwellii, attacks all the green parts of the plant and also the berries. It manifests through light brown spots, and later small black spots appear. When it reaches the grape, it rots and dehydrates. To heal the plant, the most effective measure is to remove the damaged bunches in winter pruning. After this step, chemical fungicides should be used.

These are just some of the fungal diseases that a plant can suffer and that could wipe out the entire crop. Take care of your vineyards; prune, peel and skim the strain that can breathe well; and if any cluster spoils, cut it and do not let it affect the rest of the production.

In the Barcolobo cellar, we like to take care of our vines to avoid any problems and get the fruits in optimal conditions to make our wines