First Report of Black Foot Disease of Grapevine Caused by Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum in Chile

Black foot disease, caused by Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum Halleen, Schroers & Crous, is reported damaging table and wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) for the first time in Chile. During the summer of 2006, 2- to 5-year-old grapevines showed reduced vigor, shortened internodes, and drying and dying shoots along with abnormal development of roots with growth parallel to the soil surface, necrotic root crowns, and development of secondary roots. Internal necrosis extended from the bark to the pith in diseased parts of the plants. Other symptoms included black discoloration of the wood, gum inclusions in xylem vessels, black streaks in the vascular tissue, and reduction in root biomass, with sunken, necrotic root lesions. Eighteen Cylindrocarpon isolates were collected from roots, vascular elements, and pith tissue of grapevines cultivars (Flame Seedless, Red Globe, Thompson Seedless, Merlot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon) from 12 locations in Chile. The isolates were identified on the basis of morphologica...