Prevalence and pathogenicity of fungi associated with grapevine trunk diseases in Chilean vineyards

Trunk diseases in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) have been identified as a major problem in the wine and table grape industries around the world, reducing the productivity, quality and longevity of vineyards. The present study examined 694 wood samples from the cordons and trunks of vines with trunk disease symptoms in 67 Chilean vineyards located between Copiapo (27°18’ S) and Los Angeles (37°42’ S). A total of 1,363 fungal isolates were obtained from diseased cordons and trunks with dark brown streaking, yellowish softspongy cankers and brown hard V-shaped cankers. Using molecular identification, a total of 12 fungal genera were identified in Chile at varying frequencies: Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (85%); Botryosphaeriaceae (56%) including Diplodia mutila, D. seriata, Neofusicoccum parvum and Spencermartinsia viticola; Inocutis sp. (47%); Diatrypaceae (Cryptovalsa ampelina and Eutypella leprosa) (4.8%); Seimatosporium botan (1.7%); Phomopsis viticola (0.4%); Cylindrocarpon sp. (0.4%); and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (0.2%). All species were pathogenic, inducing dark brown streaking on various aged grapevine wood tissue. In conclusion, several fungal species are associated with grapevine trunk diseases in the Chilean vineyards being Pa. chlamydospora, D. seriata and Inocutis sp. the most frequent isolated species. These are pathogens that can be found alone or they can coexist in the same plant. This is the first report of Pho. viticola associated with trunk diseases in Chile.  Las enfermedades de la madera de la vid (Vitis vinifera) se han identificado como un importante problema sanitario de la industria viticola en el mundo, reduciendo la productividad, calidad y longevidad de los vinedos. En el presente estudio se examino 694 muestras de brazos y troncos de vides con cancrosis en la madera recolectada en 67 vinedos entre Copiapo (27° 18’ S) y Los Angeles (37° 42’ S), Chile. Se obtuvieron 1.363 aislados fungicos desde brazos y troncos enfermos, caracterizados por presentar estrias necroticas vasculares, cancros blandos, esponjosos, blanco-cremosos y cancros firmes en consistencia, pardos, a menudo en forma de V e cortes transversales. Por analisis molecular de la region ITS del ADNr, se identificaron 12 generos de hongos fitopatogenos los correspondieron a: Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (85%), especies de Botryosphaeriaceae (56%) (Diplodia mutila, D. seriata, Neofusicoccum parvum y Spencermartinsia viticola), Inocutis sp. (47%), Diatrypaceae spp. (Cryptovalsa ampelina y Eutypella leprosa) (4,8%), Seimatosporium botan (1,7%), Phomopsis viticola (0,4%), Cylindrocarpon sp. (0,4%) y Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (0,2%). Estas especies fueron patogenicas, induciendo estrias necroticas vasculares, pardo oscuras, a negras en tejidos semi-lignificados y lignificados de vid. En conclusion, varias especies de hongos fitopatogenos estan asociados a cancrosis de la madera en vinedos siendo Pa. chlamydospora, D. seriata e Inocutis sp. las especies mas frecuentemente encontradas. Estos hongos fitopatogenos pueden encontrarse solos o se pueden encontrar coexistiendo en la misma planta. Este es el primer reporte de Pho. viticola asociado con enfermedades de la madera en Chile.