Which practice isrecommended for managing eutypa dieback?

• A. Remove the entire vine and replant
• B. Pruning late and applying fungicide to pruning wounds
• C. Increase irrigation to wash spores away
• D. Apply copper sprays to canes

Answer: (B)

Eutypa dieback infects vines through fresh pruning wounds, so controlling the disease hinges on how wounds are managed and when pruning occurs. The fungus releases spores during wet spells, and it can enter any exposed, untreated pruning cut. Therefore, protecting wounds with a fungicide and timing pruning to minimize exposure during the high-risk period are the most effective strategies.

Pruning late reduces the window during which new wounds are susceptible to infection, and applying a fungicide to pruning wounds provides a protective barrier or kills spores that land on those wounds, preventing fungal colonization. This combined approach directly targets the pathogen’s entry route and its infection timing, making it the best choice.

Options involving drastic removal of the vine, simply increasing irrigation, or applying copper sprays do not address the infection route as effectively.