Towards a redefinition of the diseases within the esca complex of grapevine

Abstract

This article proposes a new definition of the concept of esca of grapevine, and of the diseases associated with esca. A proposal is made to restrict the term ‘esca’ to grapevine wood rot, as in the past, and to apply the name ‘Grapevine leaf stripe disease’ for the tracheomycosis which is the conspicuous and familiar visible tiger stripe symptoms on grapevine leaves. Retention of the term ‘esca proper’, to designate the co-occurrence of esca and Grapevine leaf stripe diseas, will retain linkage with the early terminology and with the convention of associating tiger striped leaves with wood rot.