Advancing Vineyard Health: Insights and Innovations for Combating Grapevine Red Blotch and Leafroll Diseases

Grapevine red blotch disease (GRBD) and grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) are growing threats to the California wine and wine grape sector, which contributes $73 billion annually to the state's economy. These viral diseases not only reduce grape yield and the productive lifespan of vineyards but also affect sugars and other aspects of fruit quality that are relevant to wine flavor profiles. Due to the complexity of the processing and aging winemaking involves, it can take years for the full impact of both diseases on the quality of the final product to become apparent.

At the request of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, this report reviews the current state of GRBD and GLD knowledge, identifies knowledge gaps, and proposes key research and actions that could help reduce the spread and economic impact of these diseases. The report sets out guidance that could help improve GRBD and GLD management and offers strategies that may yield promising solutions for managing these diseases.