Assessing the impact of different canopy management practices on disease control of cold-climate wine grapes in Wisconsin

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Assessing the impact of different canopy management practices on disease control of cold-climate wine grapes in Wisconsin

The proposed project seeks to address how canopy management can offer preventative practices to mitigate the development of diseases in cold-climate grapes. As the cold-climate grape industry continues to grow, vineyards will require options for integrated management practices that reduce reliance on chemical fungicides while still reducing the impacts of fungal diseases. By evaluating different canopy management practices, we will provide readily applicable information to vineyards to aid in the implementation of these practices at their operations.

The cold-climate wine grape industry is the result of 20^th century breeding efforts in the Midwest. Cold-climate grape hybrids make up over 80% of the grape industry in Wisconsin. These vines were bred to withstand the harsh Midwest winters, but they also inherited high vigor canopies from their native lines. By midseason, the significant canopy growth on these hybrid vines is challenging to manage, and while considered a demanding task by vineyard operators, it is also a necessary tactic to increase fruit quality. With previous research demonstrating natural disease resistance of these varieties, canopy management (i.e., thinning) can be a great tool to further mitigate fungal disease pathogens. However, it is not understood how these thinning practices in Midwest vine training systems and climate contribute to pathogen control.

By utilizing two vineyards and three cold-climate varieties in Wisconsin, different canopy management treatments will be tested in each vineyard. Data will be collected on disease incidence and severity, fruit quality, and marketable yield. The research will be demonstrated to growers through field days with the Wisconsin Grape Growers Association at the research vineyards. Extension materials in the form of newsletter articles and educational videos will be developed and distributed by the research team, to cold-climate grape growers in the North Central region (WI, IA, MN, IL, etc.).

The success of this project will be assessed through grower feedback surveys distributed at grower-focused events such as field days and annual winter conference (e.g. Growing Wisconsin) These evaluations will assess the information provided, grower understanding before and after the talk, questions or concerns, and likelihood to implement information learned in their own vineyards.

The anticipated learning outcomes for this study are:

• researchers and cold-climate grape growers will learn about the impact of different canopy management practices on diseases;
• researchers and cold-climate grape growers will observe the impact of grape variety and training systems on disease; and
• researchers and cold-climate grape growers will learn how different canopy management practices impact vine vigor and grape quality.

The expected action outcomes for this study are:

• cold-climate grape growers will implement some type of canopy management practice at their vineyard (short-term);
• growers will become more confident in their ability to make thinning decisions for their vineyards (medium-term);
• the cold-climate grape industry will integrate more cultural control-based canopy management practices relying on fewer chemical fungicide applications (long-term); and
• the project team (Courtney Meeks and Dr. Holland) will make recommendations on best management practices for disease control.