Cover Crops as Reservoirs for Young Vine Decline Pathogens

Young vine decline (YVD) is a grapevine trunk disease (GTD) which results in stunted and delayed growth, reduced yield, root necrosis eventually death of young vines. Given losses associated with disease, increasing limits on chemical fungicides, there need for sustainable approaches to combat disease; (1) Cover cropping commonly used practice agricultural systems has potential reduce vineyards but risk that cover crop species may act as host pathogens, the infection; (2) We tested 25 plant crops assess their Ilyonectria liriodendri, causal agent decline. inoculated greenhouse pots pathogeninc strain assayed roots presence pathogen; (3) Of tested, many showed increased abundance Ilyonectria, compared background levels. In particular phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) very high levels colonization. (4) This first study our knowledge highlights soil borne fungal pathogens.