Survival of FUngi Associated with Grapevine Decline in Pruned Wood after Composting

Abstract

Recycling vine wood pruned in winter in the vineyard, after grinding and composting, might pose a risk of
recontamination with fungi associated with grapevine decline. The survival of four ascomycete fungi (Botryosphaeria
obtusa, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Eutypa lata) in composted material was
investigated in a 3-year study conducted in the Bordeaux area. Naturally and artificially infested material was
examined before and after composting using classical isolation procedures. Results clearly showed that a composting
process can eradicate the four target fungi efficiently.