Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

A method for detecting the crown gall pathogen, Agrobacterium vitis, in dormant cuttings was developed. The method involves extracting the bacterium in grape tissues and then positively detecting the bacterium using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify very specific DNA sequences of the bacterium. The DNA sequences detect specific regions of the bacterial chromosome and regions of the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of the bacterium. Further verification of the sensitivity of the technique is being done.

Field experiments for measuring the effectiveness of two biological controls (nonpathogenic strains F2/5 and CG523) of grape crown gall were initiated. With the two new field experiments in commercial vineyards in 1997, plus a field trial at the Geneva Experiment Station, we now have five field experiments in NY.

The effect of timing of biocontrol applications in relation to inoculation with the pathogen was measured. Some strains of A. vitis are not controlled when they are applied to grape at the same time as the biocontrol. However, if the biocontrol was applied to grape wounds 24 hours before the pathogen, galls were prevented completely or were greatly inhibited.

Strains of A. vitis that were isolated from wild V. riparia vines were investigated. We wished to determine if the strains can acquire the pathogenicity genes from pathogenic A. vitis, and therefore become pathogens. Numerous mating experiments were completed. In one case (from 300 bacteria) transfer of the pathogenicity genes was detected. Therefore, it appears that the threat of wild grape harboring pathogenic A. vitis and spreading it to commercial vineyards is remote.

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Dept. of Biology, SUNY-Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

As mentioned in the previous report, we were able to induce embryo formation from in vitro leaf explants of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The embryos were placed on a woody plant (WP) medium to enhance shoot development and root formation. Also, we were able to transfer either a chitinase or glucanase gene into grape cells which became kanamycin resistant (Kmr) and proliferated to form calli (a group of undifferentiated cells). The Kmr calli were obtained from leaf or petiole explants of all three grape cultivars after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The positive DNA bands (673 bp for chitinase and 373 bp for glucanase) were observed in the PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-amplified DNAs derived from these Kmr calli, indicating insertions of the chitinase or glucanase gene in them. In the past year, however, we were unable to induce embryo formation from any of these Kmr calli.

In addition to embryogenesis, we continued working on the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and in vitro organogenesis (shoot formation from explants). Several transgenic shoots were obtained from Niagara grapes after transformation. The best medium for shoot induction is Nitsh & Nitsh’s (NN) agar medium containing 10 mM BAP (6- benzylamino purine) and 1.0 or 1.13 mM IAA (indole acetic acid). The shoots were then transferred into the propagation medium to induce roots. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genomic DNAs from leaves of these transgenic plants showed a positive DNA band (673 bp for chitinase) indicating the insertion of the chitinase gene. We will continue working on increasing the number of Niagara transgenic plants so that we might be able to obtain plants containing both chitinase and b-1,3 glucanase genes. Once enough plant materials are obtained from each transgenic line, we will perform Northern blot to confirm the expressions of inserted genes and pathogenecity test in the laboratory to evaluate their ability for disease resistance.

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1G. English-Loeb, 1C. Marion, 2M. Saunders, 2S. Katti, and 2A.. Muza

1Dept. of Entomology, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

2Lake Erie Regional Center for Grape Research and Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, North East, PA

This project examines insect pest management practices that incorporate both use of selective insecticides and biological control of grape berry moth (GBM) by Trichogramma minutum and eastern grape leafhopper by Anagrus epos. The Penn State group (Saunders, Katti & Muza) tested experimental releases of Trichogramma (Objective 1) and the effect of ground covers (Objective 3). The Cornell group (English-Loeb, Marion, Fredonia staff) tested alternative timing and materials for control of GBM and leafhopper, and the effect of ground covers in row middles (Objectives 2 and 3).

Trichogramma wasps were released in replicate 30 vine plots of Concord grapes located at LERGREC at a rate of 100,000 wasps per plot per week during the 1997 growing season. Release plots were interspersed with control plots that did not receive T. minutum. At harvest, release plots had significantly lower levels of berry injury from GBM (1.8%) compared to control plots (4.6%) and plots treated with conventional insecticides (2.8%). Current efforts center on making the use of T. minutum cost effective through better timing of releases and better application methods.

In a Concord vineyard near Fredonia, NY, we compared the effectiveness of selective insecticides (three formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (BTs) and Confirm (an insect growth regulator) with conventional insecticides for controlling GBM. Overall, the Bt products and Confirm did not perform as well as the conventional insecticides. These products have shorter residual activity than traditional broad spectrum insecticides and, therefore, they need to be applied at, or just before, peak egg laying, which was not the case in 1997. In a different Concord vineyard near Fredonia, we tested whether we could conserve A. epos and still achieve good control of eastern grape leafhopper by making applications at prebloom instead of 10 day postbloom. The data has not been fully analyzed, but it appears that this strategy was not effective.

Finally, using a Chardonnay vineyard in the Finger Lakes and a Concord vineyard at LERGREC, we measured the impact of nectar-producing cover crops in row middles on parasitism by A. epos andT. minutum. Buckwheat doubled the level of parasitism of sentinel leafhopper eggs in the Chardonnay vineyard (58% vs. 27%), but this was not statistically significant. Buckwheat did not promote increased parasitism by T. minutum, however. Cage experiments in the greenhouse confirmed that buckwheat flowers increase parasitism by A. epos. At LERGREC, flowering buckwheat did not result in reduced berry injury by GBM relative to control plots without buckwheat.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

Downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, is potentially one of the most damaging diseases of grape in the world. However, the complex and peculiar weather conditions favorable to disease development often result in unexpected outbreaks of the disease, as well as the expectation of outbreaks that never occur. Consequently, growers may resort to the application of several protectant fungicide sprays (with or without benefit), or may risk serious crop loss by withholding fungicides when they are indeed necessary. For example, the 1986 growing season demonstrated to many growers the inadequacy of their downy mildew control programs. Several years of generally low- to moderate-disease pressure followed, but widespread losses again occurred in 1996. An accurate prediction system for downy mildew might have substantially reduced losses due to downy mildew in both years by providing a timely warning of the impending epidemic.

We developed an improved model of downy mildew by logically integrating overwintering, primary infection, and secondary infection. A weather-driven prediction model named DMCAST (Downy Mildew foreCAST model) was the product of this research. DMCAST was validated by disease and weather data collected in 1985 through 1993. DMCAST is an accurate predictor of primary infection, and an imperfect, but useful prediction model for secondary infection periods. DMCAST is a model which consolidates much of what we know of the epidemiology of grape powdery mildew. Of all available forecast models for downy mildew, DMCAST alone has the capacity to predict primary infection. In trials at Geneva, no other model of downy mildew has provided sufficiently accurate forecasts to time fungicide sprays and provide commercially acceptable levels of disease control.

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Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph

Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada

In 1996 and 1997, research was done at HRIO, Vineland Station, Canada, to investigate whether predictive models could be used to time fungicide applications better and reduce downy mildew infections. Two computer models were tested for their ability to predict infection periods of downy mildew on Vitis labrusca, cv. Niagara and Vitis vinifera, cv. Chardonnay. DMCast was developed in Geneva NY and is part of VITIS, the expert system under development at Penn State University. DMODEL was developed in Australia and is part of AusVit, an expert system, which is now commercially available to Australian growers. Both models use weather data (temperature, rainfall and duration of leaf wetness) to determine whether or not conditions that promote sporulation and infection have occurred.

Replicated plots of 4 vines were sprayed with Ridomil Gold Mz (pre-bloom) and Ridomil Copper (post-bloom) within 96 hours of an infection period according to recommendations from the two models. Incidence and severity of downy mildew were assessed in these plots as well as in an unsprayed check and in plots sprayed according to a protectant schedule. All fruit from each plot was examined for the presence of downy mildew at harvest and yield, Brix, pH and titratable acid were determined.

In both years, the first primary infection period occurred during the first wet period after the vines in the field had 5-6 expanded leaves in mid-June. Use of both predictive models for timing post-infection fungicide applications to control downy mildew resulted in a reduction of 1-2 sprays per season, depending on the variety, without compromising quality or quantity of fruit.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

Grapes are one of the most widely planted and economically important fruit crops of the Northeast region. Powdery mildew, caused by Uncinula necator, is the most destructive disease of the crop. Cultivars of the European grape (Vitis vinifera) are highly susceptible to powdery mildew, and include the most popular wine and table grapes. Fruit of Vitis labruscana ‘Concord’, the major processing cultivar, can also be severely infected. Powdery mildew is controlled by as many as 10 fungicide sprays applied at fixed rates and intervals throughout the growing season, at a cost of $12-20/ha per application (nearly 1 million dollars per application for the region). Direct loss due to powdery mildew can reach 5% of annual production, or approximately $1,400,000 for the region.

Fruit of grapevine are reportedly susceptible to powdery mildew until soluble solid levels, or brix, reach 8%, and colonies are reported to expand and sporulate until brix reach 15%. These thresholds of fruit susceptibility can be found in nearly every textbook, fact sheet, and bulletin on grape powdery mildew, and they are cornerstones of many IPM programs. However, our preliminary investigations of ontogenic (i.e., age-related) resistance in fruit indicate that fruit are nearly immune to infection long before these thresholds are reached. The actual period of fruit susceptibility may be as short as 20 days in the case of Concord, and less than 4 weeks in the case of Chardonnay. Fruit infection appears to be a consequence of infection events that occur long before symptoms are manifested in the vineyard. The abbreviated and dynamic nature of fruit susceptibility contrasts sharply with the protracted period of fungicide use, and the static nature of fungicide rates and intervals of application. An analysis of 20 commercial vineyards over two years suggested that present widely-recommended practices occasionally lead to inadequate control. Our objective was to design a management program that is more closely aligned with the need to protect the crop. Efficacy of IPM programs should also be increased, and anti-resistance strategies improved. Perhaps most significantly, the current perception of IPM as inherently high-risk can be fundamentally changed by using a quantitative measure of risk as the basis for the design of disease management programs. Finally, the project can serve as a model system to encourage the development of alternatives to fixed fungicide fungicide rates and intervals of application in pathosystems with large, but predictable changes in disease pressure.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

The efficacy of three theoretical strategies for managing resistance to DMI fungicides (e.g., Bayleton, Nova, Rubigan) were determined in a commercial ‘Seyval’ vineyard in which resistance has started to occur. These strategies are:

(i) use full rather than partial rates of the fungicide (e.g., 4 oz/A versus 2 oz/A of Nova 40W);

(ii) limit the annual number of applications of the fungicide (e.g., six versus three); and

(iii) when limiting application numbers, use the fungicide to control the early phases of the epidemic rather than the later phases when pathogen populations are much higher (e.g., use in sprays # 1-3 versus #4-6).

All three of these strategies provided less selection for Nova-resistant powdery mildew isolates than their alternative, while also maximizing disease control. At the extremes, the recommended strategy of using three full-rate sprays of Nova followed by three of sulfur provided 80% disease control while allowing only 7% of the pathogen population to survive as resistant individuals; six half-rate sprays of Nova provided only 50% disease control while allowing 34% of the population to survive as resistant individuals; and three early sulfur sprays followed by three half-rate Nova sprays provided only 48% disease control while allowing 29% survival as resistant individuals.

In a separate ongoing experiment on ‘Concord’ vines, the effects of four varying levels of powdery mildew control were examined with respect to crop yield, quality, and vine performance at three different pruning/cropping levels (i.e., balance pruned, 100 nodes retained, or minimally pruned). There was no significant effect of the number of Nova sprays (i.e., 0, 2, 4, or 6) on yield, sugar content (°Brix), or number of nodes with periderm within any of the three systems.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a term referring to the induction of natural plant defense mechanisms against pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we examined two commercial SAR inducers for their potential utility against fungal diseases of grapes and explored fundamental aspects of the SAR phenomenon in grapes.

In repeated greenhouse tests with potted ‘Chardonnay’ vines, the commercial SAR inducer, benzothiodiazole (BTH), provided 87% reduction in powdery mildew severity (lesion size) when applied at a rate of 1680 µg/ml 5 to 7 days before inoculation; disease reduction was less when the treatment was applied before or after this time frame, declining to nil when it was applied 14 days beforehand. There was no effect on disease development when plants were treated with lower rates of 420, 210, or 105 µg/ml, and the prospective commercial dose of 60 µg/ml had no effect in greenhouse or field trials. Greenhouse trials examining control of downy mildew on ‘Riesling’ seedlings and potted ‘Gewürtztraminer’ vines produced similar results: a maximum of 75% reduction in disease severity was obtained when plants were treated with 1680 µg/ml of BTH 7 days before inoculation, but lower concentrations had little consistent effect. Field trials with BTH and another purported SAR inducer (the protein, harpin) provided no significant control of downy mildew or black rot.

To determine the nature of the protective reaction observed with BTH and in additional greenhouse trials using necrotizing pathogens as putative SAR inducers, treated plants were tested for the presence of several different genes responsible for the production of enzymes implicated in natural defense responses of grapes and other plants, including one responsible for resveratrol production. However, molecular probes failed to detect the expression of these genes following any of the treatments.

In conclusion, the SAR phenomenon appears to be much more difficult to induce in grapes than in several other plants, and its practical exploitation is not promising in the short term.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

Spores of fungal plant pathogens secrete an enzyme called cutinase in order to penetrate the surface of plants they are attempting to infect. We have found recently that cutinases from pathogens not able to infect grapes and other host plants might have a second function in signalling fungal attack to the plant. When applied to leaf surfaces, cutinase of the apple scab fugus can protect grape leaves from Black Rot infections. This finding opened the opportunity to exploit the enzyme in grape disease control. The development of an enzyme to be used as a spray material against plant diseases would represent an entirely new technology of disease control. Enzymes are of protein nature, are part of our nutrition and inherently non-toxic. They are, therefore, acknowledged by EPA as "biochemicals" and would be registered as biologicals. It has become possible, through biotechnology, to produce economically large amounts of such enzymes.

The amounts of cutinase we can prepare from the apple scab fungus are extremely small and prohibit experimentation even on a scale of greenhouse spray experiments. The purpose of the request for funding was, therefore, to clone the respective cutinase gene in order to prepare large amounts of the enzymes sufficient for spray trials. With the funds received we were not yet able to clone the full gene, but we have accomplished the preparation of a PCR probe that undoubtedly reflects the cutinase gene. With this probe in hand, gene cloning will be routine. Once the gene is cloned, it will be transeferred into a ‘production system’ in order to prepare quantities sufficient for spray trials. A patent application of the new technology has been submitted by the Cornell Research Foundation.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

In a series of spray timing trials in a high inoculum ‘Aurore’ vineyard, black rot was controlled completely with three applications of Nova (4 oz/A), i.e., at the start of bloom, 2 wk later, and 4 wk later (June 27, July 11, and July 25, respectively); only trace levels of disease developed when the July 25 spray was omitted. These results are consistent with similar fungicide timing trials conducted in 1995 and 1996. Spore trapping studies indicated that over 70% of the season's available ascospores (primary inoculum) were dispersed during the 10 days prior to bloom.

Clusters of Chardonnay, Riesling, Cayuga White, and Concord were inoculated in the field with spores of the black rot fungus at 2-wk intervals on June 26 (immediate prebloom to early bloom), July 10 (fruit set), July 24, and August 14. The percentage of berries that became infected following inoculations on these respective dates were: Chardonnay–1, 52, 13, and 0; Riesling–0, 35, 4, and 0; Cayuga White–3, 65, 0, and 0; Concord–54, 45, 0, and 0. Fruit set was clearly a period of high susceptibility for all four varieties, although Concord was also highly susceptible at the start of bloom.

These results indicate that bloom through fruit set is the critical time for providing protection against black rot infections, and suggest that fruit become highly resistant to infection by late July, far before the 8° Brix stage previously presumed to signal the final stage of susceptibility.

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Dept. of Plant Pathology

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

The intent of this study is to learn more about the role of young cane/shoot lesions on grape incited by the fungus Guignardia bidwellii, the causal agent of black rot. Very little is known regarding the specific environmental conditions that are required for cane infections. Currently, it is assumed that the conditions for cane and leaf infections are identical. This project has shown that the conditions for leaf and cane infections are different. This difference could affect the availability of secondary inoculum of black rot throughout the season.

The objective of this study is to compare the environmental conditions necessary for infection of young cane/ shoots to the known infection requirements of leaves. The comparisons will take place under the constant conditions of growth chambers, then within the more natural situation of a vineyard.

Cane infections through artificial inoculation of grapevines has been inconsistent in results to date. The environmental conditions necessary for infection of young canes/shoots by Black Rot spores appear to be different from that of leaves, based on initial findings from growth chamber studies and vineyard investigations. In general, it appears wetting periods have to be longer and temperatures higher for cane infections as compared to leaf infections. Growth chamber studies did not produce any cane infections below 64° F. However, preliminary vineyard inoculation studies have shown that high levels of infection can be accomplished using artificial inoculation at an average temperature as low as 56.0° F. Further examination of environmental factors at the time of infection are necessary. An attempt to relate the number of leaves infected to the number of lesions on canes, which could assist in disease scouting for cane lesions did not suggest a strong relationship.

Determination of the latent period of shoot lesions, and the effect of wetting periods on sporulation of these lesions requires further study.

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Dept. of Horticultural Sciences

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

There is no single written source of information on the structure and development of grapevines that focuses on Northeast viticultural conditions. The objective of this research is to continue to amass and consolidate information on the internal and external structure of the grapevine that is pertinent to the needs of Northeast growers. This includes adding new information that is lacking, integrating structure with vine physiology and viticultural practices, and developing a bulletin in a written and pictorial format that growers, nurserymen, processors and researchers will use as a reference. As some of this information had not yet been gathered, it was necessary to collect plant materials at various times of the growing season, process them for anatomical study, and photograph and describe their structure and growth. Funds from the industry and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation have allowed the supplemental dollars needed to fill in this missing information. The timetable put forward in 1996 allowed that 1996 and 1997 growing seasons would be used for collecting missing plant materials, processing them for structural analysis, and producing photographs, drawings, charts, etc. for the documentation. Subsequently, in 1998, this information would be described and collated with already existing materials in the development of a rough draft of a booklet or bulletin.

Funds granted in 1997 were used for collecting samples and processing tissues to develop information on: flower development in its earliest stages and at the time of pollen development, early post-bloom events such as egg fertilization and also embryo and seed formation during the fruit set period, root turn-over and soil exploration of roots (in cooperation with A. Lakso and D. Eissenstat), and differences in the growth dynamics of shoots and buds in minimal-pruned and hedged vineyards. Additional information will be submitted by cooperators to complete an integrated look into how our vines are constructed, grow and function. No additional funding is being sought for 1998, during which an outline developed in 1997 will be used to flesh out a rough draft of a publication, namely, "Structure and Development of Grapevines in the Northeast."

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1Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

2Cooperative Extension and Vineyard Laboratory, Fredonia, NY

A long-term study was begun in 1990 to evaluate the long-term effects of supplemental irrigation on the performance of mature Concord vines with three different pruning regimes (Balance, 80 Node Constant, and Minimal) to determine if minimal pruning increased the need for irrigation. Secondly, the role of irrigation in the establishment of a newly planted Niagara vineyard and its continued productivity was also evaluated.

The weather in 1997 was cool and wet early in the season, so very little stress developed and only a few irrigations were applied. Generally, the yields were lower in 1997 (6.4-11.4 tons/acre) than in 1996 due to the very heavy crops of 1996 when yields varied from 11 to 15 tons/acre. The primary effect of irrigation was that irrigation in 1995, a dry, sunny year led to higher crops in 1996, which then led to lower crops in 1997. Over the full experiment (3 wet, 3 relatively normal, and 2 dry years), the results of the Concord study were (note that these were mature vines in deep gravel with no crop thinning, Roundup row-middle management, and excellent season-long under-trellis weed control): (1) There were no long-term benefits of irrigation on Balance-pruned and 80-Node pruned vines; however, occasional effects of dry years (reduced berry size, sugar accumulation, some reductions in pruning weight) were found;

(2) Irrigation in these deep gravel soils has been beneficial only in the Minimally-pruned vines;

(3) The primary effect of irrigation in Minimally-pruned vines was to greatly reduce variability among plots with different soil water-holding capacities within the vineyard. Minimal pruned vines in drier locations showed clearly poorer results without irrigation. More competitive ground cover systems such as permanent grass middles would likely exaggerate the benefits of irrigation. Economic analysis indicated that the increased yields of irrigation in the average of the minimal-pruned plots would pay for the irrigation system, but not too much more.

The results of the Niagara experiment indicate that:

(1) Niagaras have a great potential for high sustained growth and cropping if not stressed as the first 6 crops of irrigated vines averaged 12 tons/acre, varying from 9 to 18 tons/acre; (2) Very good water availability appears necessary for Niagaras to develop early growth and high early cropping and also to maintain good vine size and heavy cropping after establishment. A 30% increase in total cropping with irrigation was found (first 6 crops irrigated totaled 72tons/acre versus 55 for non-irrigated);

(3) Irrigation appears to have great potential to improve yields in Niagara vineyards; and (4) Irrigation should be provided continuously, even after the vineyard is established. Economic analyses show strong increases in value of irrigation in Niagaras.

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Dept. of Horticultural Sciences

NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

The value of sustained research efforts to determine optimum cultural methods and superior clones or varieties to obtain the desired combination of vine survival, regular production and maximum wine quality in New York has been demonstrated in these research vineyards. Very low temperatures in January 1994 caused profound injury to the test vineyards. The 1997 growing season finally found the vineyards fully recovered from that episode. Thus the data allow us to observe and record the impact of treatment variables on the ability of vines to endure cold, recover from cold damage and on fruit and wine quality during this damage and recovery cycle. The fact that other new funds have allowed Dr. Henick-Kling to resume producing a small number of test wines from the grapes produced in these experiments has been particularly important.

Highlight observations include the relatively early hardiness acquisition and improved field survival provided by relatively low vigor rootstocks, the superior recovery and sustained fruiting of vines with low, divided training and cane pruning, the relatively high survival of Pinot noir clones 29 and 7, the satisfactory performance of Gamay Noir, Trollinger, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and some Chardonnay clones. Wines from Chardonnay clones indicate important quality differences. Continued evaluation of Pinot noir clones and feed back from industry tastings has allowed us to create a short list of clones which combine superior performance and commercial availability. We are developing a plan for joint winery/experiment station regional testing of these clones.

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1Dept. of Fruit & Vegetable Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

2Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY

3Vineyard Laboratory, Fredonia, NY

4Finger Lakes Grape Program, Penn Yan, NY

5Lake Erie Grape Program, Fredonia, NY

Project Objective: This project was undertaken during the 1997 season to investigate possible involvement of vine nutrition and other factors in irregular cropping and/or low yields resulting from poor berry set.

Literature Review: Literature on grape nutrition relevant to flower development, pollination and berry set was reviewed. Elements that appear to be of particular importance in promoting proper flowering and fruit set include boron, zinc, magnesium and copper.

Testing Methods and Recommendations: Standards and recommendations for juice and wine grape tissue and soil tests were modified and implemented during the 1997 season. Exploratory studies of alternative sampling methods and timing were also initiated.

Vineyard Trials: Results obtained from trials initiated prior to the 1997 and in 1997 were:

1NYS IPM Program, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

2Regional Grape Program, Fredonia, NY

NEWA was able to maintain the electronic weather network in the 1997 growing season with increasing support from NEWA members and with various grants from commodity organizations and other sources. NEWA attracted 67 members in 1997, a 56% increase over 1996. NEWA continued to contract with private forecasting firms for agricultural weather products which interest our members.

The NEWA BBS played a critical role in two projects located in the Lake Erie growing region. An Integrated Crop Management project involving 8 growers, 1 farm supply dealer, 4 processor representatives, and the Lake Erie Regional Grape team was conducted during the 1997 growing season. Elements of Grape IPM and vineyard nutrition were developed for use with this project where participants communicated with each other via e-mail through the NEWA BBS. Weather information supplied on the BBS was used to implement IPM elements in participating growers vineyards and to help processors and extension personnel monitor conditions throughout the Lake Erie growing region. Growers attending a wrap up meeting for the project expressed interest in continuing this project in the future but expressed a need for more information on the BBS specific to grapes. A second project involving grape berry moth and development of a new growing degree day model for prediction of second and third generations was also conducted in the Lake Erie region. The NEWA BBS allowed for collection of weather information from across the region which allowed this project to compare weather information with grape berry moth trap counts from a larger area than was possible in the past.
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