Fungal Trunk Diseases: A Global Threat to Grapevines

Trunk diseases are global wood diseases of grapevine that can significantly reduce the productive lifespan of vineyards. Infection may initiate at the nursery or in vineyards. Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are caused by diverse Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungal pathogens in at least nine families. They may be soilborne or airborne, depending on the type of pathogen involved, and can affect vineyards of all ages. GTDs constitute a complex group of diseases with multiple pathogens involved, diverse infection pathways, and a broad range of symptoms. Here, we discuss various aspects of GTDs, including their discovery and worldwide distribution, disease incidence in vineyards, pathogen taxonomy, and the most informative loci for identification as well as disease cycles and biology and plant-pathogen interaction. We also provide a review of the main control strategies employed to mitigate the impact of GTDs in nurseries and vineyards and discuss the main challenges for disease management and future needs.