Infection and Colonization of Grapevines by Ganoderma lucidum. James E. Adaskaveg, Graduate Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721. Robert L. Gilbertson, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721. Plant Dis. 71:251-253. Accepted for publication 23 October 1986. Copyright 1987 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0251.

Isolates of Ganoderma lucidum were shown to be pathogenic to Vitis champini ‘Dog Ridge’ in greenhouse studies and to V. vinifera ‘Robin’ in field studies. One-year-old grapevines growing in the greenhouse were inoculated with the fungus by placing infested wood blocks adjacent to wounded or unwounded roots. Reisolations after 24 mo from the inoculated grapevines yielded only G. lucidum from the dead and declining plants. The fungus initially invaded the heartwood and in later stages infected the sapwood. Six infected plants developed symptoms of leaf wilting, yellowing, and dying, similar to symptoms reported for naturally infected grapevines. Control grapevines remained healthy with no wood decay, and G. lucidum was not isolated from these plants. When grape wood chips infested with the fungus were placed in trunk tissue of 17-yr-old grapevines growing in the field, white-rot decay columns, limited to the heartwood, extended to 42 cm after 17 mo.