Bunch Grape Advisory
Vol. 1 Issue 7
July 27, 2001
Current Situation
Traveling around the state last week I got to call on several vineyards
in most of the bunch grape growing areas and see how the season is progressing
for everyone. Veraison has occurred or is occurring on most varieties
in all areas and everyone was busy with leaf pulling, shoot positioning,
hedging, and other canopy management-related chores. Pinot noir in Polk
County was already well-colored. I have to say that most of the vineyards
I saw last week looked very good to excellent. Most vineyards were very
clean and disease control looked good. If you're doing leaf pulling, it
needs to be finished soon. Too much foliage in the fruiting zone can increase
the potential for bunch rot. Also, waiting too close to harvest to remove
leaves can lead to sunburned fruit
Mid-Summer Pest Management Issues
The most common disease problem I saw last week was some scattered bunch
rot on Chardonnay (see 
picture).
Tight-clustered varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot noir are highly susceptible
to bunch rot and require careful canopy management and a good disease-control
program to prevent heavy losses in our warm and humid climate. And with
all grape varieties as berries begin to ripen they become more susceptible
to bunch rot. So with the warm, rainy weather we're experiencing this
week, keep a close watch on your crop for signs of disease development.
The best materials for bunch rot control are Elevate, Rovral, and Vanguard
(pre-harvest intervals of 0,7, and 7 days, respectively). Another new
material, Serenade, is also labeled for bunch rot and sour rot control
and has a pre-harvest interval of 0 days as well.
If you've been having trouble with Japanese beetles, don't feel alone.
By far the most common affliction I 
saw
around the state, occurring in almost every vineyard, was Japanese beetle
damage. Damage ranged from light to extreme. Older, well-established vines
can tolerate some leaf feeding by Japanese beetles, but younger vines
with less total leaf area (and thus less to lose) can be affected much
more severely, having total growth for the year reduced. And if cropping
vines are allowed to suffer too much loss of leaf area then maturing the
crop can become a problem. Extensive leaf loss, like heavy pruning in
mid-summer, can also lead to an extended period of vegetative growth at
a
time when you would prefer the vines to be settling down for the year.
The best material for controlling Japanese beetles is Sevin, but Imidan
and malathion are also labeled for control.
Vineyard Surveys
In late April vineyard survey forms were sent out jointly by the Cooperative Extension and the NC Grape Council. To date only about 15% of those who were sent forms have sent them back. If you still have your form, please take a few minutes to fill them out and mail them in. If you need another copy please contact me or Tania Dautlick at the NCDA Division of Marketing to get one. The North Carolina grape and wine industry is growing rapidly and in order to better serve the industry we need to know who and where you are and what your needs may be.
Vineyard Site Suitability Maps
Vineyard site suitability maps for all counties in the state of North Carolina are now available. Map sets costs $5.00 per site and can be ordered from the Extension Viticulturist's office. Order forms can be found at the NCDA Grapes and Wine website at:
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/commodit/horticul/grape/sitesuit.htm
Andy Allen
Extension Associate - Viticulture
(919) 515-3705 (office)
(919) 218-1125 (mobile)
andy_allen@ncsu.edu
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