CropWatch SA Adelaide Hills is a service provided by the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. DJ’s Grower Services provide vineyard monitoring data, interpret weather data & compile the messages. Information is general in nature and should not be relied upon. Always seek professional advice specific to your vineyard. All photos (c) James Hook & Richard McGeachy unless noted. CropWatch acknowledges the support of James Hook & Matthew Wilson in preparing this message.

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More Pest and Disease information is available More Pest and Disease information is available More Pest and Disease information is available More Pest and Disease information is available

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Strong shoot growth seen over the last two weeks has continued and vines are developing rapidly with signs of capfall (flowering), being seen in early Chardonnay blocks, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir (left).

Flowering is expected to progress quickly in the next few days. Flowering is slightly earlier than last season and continues the trend of vines flowering earlier in spring seen in the last three seasons.

LBAM

Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) egg masses have been found in blocks throughout the district and grubs are expected to be found in tips and bunches next week. Buttshoot removal in many blocks is a priority over the coming weeks as these will harbor LBAM caterpillars (below) and are best removed to reduce your pest and disease risk.

The hot and dry conditions can help naturally control LBAM as can natural predators like lacewing larvae and spiders.

Early Flowering begins

CropWatch SA Adelaide Hills is a service provided by the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. DJ’s Grower Services provide vineyard monitoring data, interpret weather data & compile the messages. Information is general in nature and should not be relied upon. Always seek professional advice specific to your vineyard. All photos (c) James Hook & Richard McGeachy unless noted. CropWatch acknowledges the support of James Hook & Matthew Wilson in preparing this message.

Botrytis

Flowering is an important time in determining your risk of Botrytis bunch rot at harvest. Rain during flowering can lead to Botrytis infecting the developing berries through tiny wounds left by the flower caps falling off. This infection is known as ‘latent Botrytis’ because the disease waits dormant in the berries as they develop. It will then appear as an infection if weather conditions are suitable when the fruit ripens.

Currently the hot and dry weather does not favour Botrytis infection. Good news.

The best natural defense against Botrytis balanced yields, an early harvest, with an open canopy with loose bunches. Growers can also learn from vineyards operating organically or biodynamically where they develop techniques that lead to healthy vines with strong, thick berry skins at harvest.

If your vineyard has a history of Botrytis or your variety has tight bunches you may consider limiting the chances of latent infection with a registered Botrytis fungicide (right).

If you are going to protect your vines over flowering it is a case of risk versus cost of control. Factors to weight up are the expected value of your grapes this season.

Below – Botrytis fungicide cost per hectare (assuming maximum label rate and a 1000lt dilute spray volume). Filantm = $185 Scalatm = $95 Chlorothanonil = $35-45 Teldortm = $110 Switchtm = $130 Captantm = $17 Rovral Aquaflotm = $40

Registered Botrytis Fungicides

Tradename AWRI

Withholding

Period

Pre 2009

Activity

Group

New

Activity

Group Filan

tm

10% Flowering EL

19

G

7

Scalatm

* Note Constellation

Wines has a 10%

Flowering EL 19

withholding on Scala.

80% Capfall EL 25*

I 9

Chlorothanonil

Y M5

Teldortm

J 10

Switchtm

Berries Peasize EL

31

I + L 9 + 12

Captan 30 days before

harvest

Y M4

Rovraltm

, Civettm

,

Corvettetm

7 days before

harvest

B 2

Irrigation

The application of irrigation is one of the key factors in determining wine quality. Moisture monitoring equipment can help with scheduling irrigations, but it also pays to look closely at the growing tips in your vineyard.

If your soil is moist, this week’s hot weather will push shoot growth. This season canopies could grow larger than last season. All monitored blocks seen in the last few days have active tip growth. What is your vineyard doing?

CropWatch SA Adelaide Hills is a service provided by the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. DJ’s Grower Services provide vineyard monitoring data, interpret weather data & compile the messages. Information is general in nature and should not be relied upon. Always seek professional advice specific to your vineyard. All photos (c) James Hook & Richard McGeachy unless noted. CropWatch acknowledges the support of James Hook & Matthew Wilson in preparing this message.

Powdery Mildew

Registered Powdery Mildew Fungicides

Active Tradename AWRI Withholding

Period

Pre 2009

Activity

Group

New 2009

Activity

Group

azoxystrobin Amistar 250SC tm

Use no later than 80%

Capfall EL 25.

K

11

flusilazole Nustartm

C 3

hexaconazole

Hex 50SCtm

C 3

spiroxamine Prospertm

E 5

tebuconazole Folicur 430SCtm

C 10

tetraconazole Domark 40MEtm

C 9 + 12

trioxystrobin Flint 500 WGtm

Use no later than EL

Stage 31 (before

bunch closure).

K 11

pyraclostrobin Cabriotm

, Cabrio

WGtm

Use no later than EL

Stage 31 (before

bunch closure) but do

not use later than 63

days before harvest.

K 11

penconazole

Topas 100ECtm

Use no later than EL

Stage 31 (before

bunch closure) but do

not use later than 60

days before harvest.

C 3

quinoxyfen Legendtm

Use no later than EL

Stage 31 (before

bunch closure) but do

not use later than 60

days before harvest.

M 13

fenarimol Rubigan SCtm

Use no later than 35

days before harvest.

C 3

myclobutanil Mycloss Xtra

C 3

triadimenol Bayfidan 250 EC,

Tridim 25o EC

C 3

triadimefon Slingshot, Triad

125, Turret

C 3

copper

ammonium

acetate

Copper Count N,

Liquidcop

Use 30 days before

harvest.

Y M1

sulphur

elemental

Various Y M2

Above – Table of registered Powdery Mildew fungicides. Always remember to rotate your Powdery Mildew control. Remember to look at the activity group of different products when considering your rotations. Correct rotation means selecting products from a different activity groups. More information is available from the AWRI Dogbook download available here.

Many growers will opt to do wire lifting from this week, which allows for good spray coverage in the future. Also ultraviolet light suppresses Powdery mildew, so keeping canopies open with some exposure to the sun is one of the best natural defenses against the disease.

The CropWatch vineyards remain clean of significant disease, however vineyards that have been mothballed (vineyards that have been taken out of production and are receiving a minimal level of care) are showing signs of Powdery Mildew.

Growers with mothballed vineyards will need to consider what they do over the flowering period. If high levels of Powdery Mildew develop you run the risk of having Powdery spread into neighboring vineyards this season.

Also of concern are the long term effects on disease levels in future seasons. Vineyards that have a high level of Powdery in one season have increased amounts of spores (ascospores) that carry over into next season.

Downy Mildew

The hot and dry weather is not suitable for the disease. With each dry week the risk of Downy Mildew affecting your crop decreases. Grape berries are immune to Downy Mildew infection once they reach 2-6mm (Berries Peppercorn EL 30-31).