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.