UGA Extension Viticulture Blog

Posts by pbrannen

About pbrannen

Phil Brannen is a Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management, where he also received an M.S. in Plant Pathology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University. He has extensive experience with disease management programs in numerous cropping systems. He serves as the extension fruit pathologist for Georgia – conducting research and technology transfer for multiple fruit commodities. His efforts are directed towards developing IPM practices to solve disease issues and technology transfer of disease-management methods to commercial fruit producers. He also teaches the graduate level Field Pathology Course, the History of Plant Diseases and their Impact on Human Societies Course, team-teaches the IPM Course, coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and guest lectures in numerous other courses throughout the year.

Here Comes the Rain — Diseases Too

Jun 8, 2019 | Written by

We have had pretty dry weather recently, but the rainfall of late and predictions for more storms next week will increase the likelihood of downy mildew onset — as well as other fungal diseases of wine grapes.  We are still within a critical stage for cluster infections by downy mildew…
Read More

Downy Mildew Warning

May 30, 2019 | Written by

I have not personally observed this yet, but county agents and producers are now starting to observe limited downy mildew.  Though it has been drier of late, dew is sufficient for infection, and we have had some rains over the last few weeks that may have initiated infections.  Scout carefully…
Read More

Grape Disease Management Update

May 17, 2019 | Written by

Bloom and post-bloom are critical times for disease management in grapes. Temperatures and rainfall are generally favorable for pathogen development at this time, though conditions are not as wet as those observed last year. This is particularly true for grapes that are susceptible to powdery/downy mildews and Botrytis. The fruit…
Read More

Captan Review by EPA

Feb 25, 2019 | Written by

Hello to all.  Captan is currently under review by EPA.  For those of you with interest in this fungicide and its continued use for grapes, please respond with comments to EPA via the link below.  Also, forward to other producers and other researchers outside Georgia and the Southeast who should…
Read More

Gramoxone (Paraquat) Injury to Young Vines

Oct 5, 2018 | Written by Phil Brannen

The school of hard knocks is tough, but lessons learned can be important and they tend to stick.  I encountered an issue in one of our just-planted, on-farm research blocks yesterday.  Vines were collapsing and dying, and symptomatic vines presented a combination of red leaves, and/or leaves with red to…
Read More

Downy Mildew Field Failures in 2018

Sep 27, 2018 | Written by

This article (see link) reviews the state of grape downy mildew resistance in Georgia as of the close of the 2018 season.  Field failures when using strobilurin (QoI) fungicides have been confirmed in Georgia for both research and multiple commercial vineyard sites.  Of major import, efficacy of several downy mildew…
Read More

Pierce’s Disease Update

Aug 23, 2018 | Written by

Pierce’s disease (PD), caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, is quite prevalent in many locations this year.  The cold winter this last year has not made up for the two previous warm winters, so the bacterium has survived and prospered over the last 2-3 years. Unfortunately, once vines are infected…
Read More