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Effect of Growth Stage on Susceptibility of Grape Berry and Rachis Tissues to Infection by Phomopsis viticola

Intact ‘Seyval’ grape clusters in the greenhouse and ‘Catawba’ clusters in the field were inoculated with conidia of Phomopsis viticola at seven Eichorn-Lorenz growth stages between 12 (prebloom) and 35 (véraison) in 1998. Five pots (10 clusters) were used per inoculation, and the experiment was repeated three times. Also, 10 to 20 randomly selected Catawba clusters were inoculated in the field for each of three replications at each growth stage. Studies were repeated in 1999. In addition, Chambourcin clusters were also inoculated at four growth stages in the greenhouse in 1999. Results obtained in the greenhouse and field during both years and for all cultivars indicate that berry and rachis infections can occur at all growth stages between 12 and 35 with no evidence of decreasing susceptibility over time. Results disagree with some literature reports that indicate that berry infection occurs primarily during bloom and shortly after bloom, and susceptibility decreases as fruit matures.