Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/51841
VINEYARD Strategies can be adopted, how- ever, that may reduce or limit the likely damage or incidence of gall development: 1. Avoid field grafting. If working with rootstocks particularly prone to crown gall, such as 420A, avoid bleeding the vine below the point of bud insertion. 2. If you do field graft, do it in the spring rather than fall. (With fall field grafting, the point of grafting is usually mounded with dirt over winter, which would allow possi- bility of damage/dirt/infected dirt getting into the union, thus trig- gering crown gall development.) 3. Avoid potted vines, especially dormant potted product. Nurser- ies propagate potted vines in containers of no more than 2-3 inches in diameter and 4-6 inches deep. In such a small container the vine root system is damaged in shape – and never recovers – and both roots and shoots are unable to grow properly to heal propagation wounds and develop to suitable size. 4. Carefully inspect all dormant bare-root product. Reject vines with galls, incomplete graft unions and non-healed propaga- tion wounds. 5. Only work with nurseries that appear to have clean facilities. 6. Ensure that vines are planted sufficiently early in the season to permit tissues to heal and lignify before winter frosts. 7. Ensure that vines are planted sufficiently high in the ground so that the graft union is well clear of the soil. Bleeding vines below the point of bud insertion can lead to crown gall issues. 8. Protect fragile vines with a carton to reduce potential frost damage. www.enartisvinquiry.com 64 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT JAN - FEB 2012 EVQ_microox TR.indd 1 WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM 10/11/11 13:04