Project shows extent of fungicide resistance
Botrytis, powdery and downy mildew are the top three diseases for economic impact in Australian viticulture. A high proportion of those costs are spent on control measures, including fungicides, to keep the diseases at bay. Unfortunately all three of these diseases have the ability to develop resistance to the fungicides commonly used to control them.
Testing for fungicide resistance has been the subject of a four year national project led by South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), and funded by Wine Australia, that has recently concluded. Under the project, samples of these three diseases were taken from vineyards across Australia and tested against a range of commonly used registered fungicides. Isolates were tested for both phenotypic resistance (resistance seen in the vineyard) and genotypic resistance (mutations in the DNA that are known to cause resistance).
Results across Australia for powdery mildew revealed genotypic QoI resistance (activity group 11) was found in most regions. Genotypic analysis of powdery isolates revealed a resistant mutation for DMI’s (activity group 3) in 60% of isolates but the phenotypic resistance was not widespread.
For downy mildew the presence of metalaxyl resistance (activity group 4) was found in all states except SA, whilst the resistance mutation to QoI fungicides was also found in some regions. Botrytis isolates were found with resistance to fenhexamid, iprodione, boscalid and pyrimethanil but 54% of sites tested had no resistance detected.
More specifically for WA regions the results were:
Powdery mildew
The mutation for resistance to DMI fungicides and QoI fungicides were found in a small number of vineyards in Margaret River and the Great Southern.
Downy mildew
None of the WA isolates of downy mildew were found to have the genetic mutation for QoI resistance. Metalaxyl resistance was detected for the first time on two sites in Margaret River.
Botrytis
A total of 371 isolates were tested from 47 sites across WA, a site could be different blocks within a vineyard. Of those, 326 isolates from 26 sites remain sensitive to all fungicides based on the thresholds levels for each of the fungicides. Of the remainder, 14 isolates from 11 sites were classified resistant to boscalid, 35 isolates from 15 vineyards to iprodione and 22 isolates from 14 sites to pyrimethanil. No isolates tested resistant to fenhexamid. Of concern, a total of six WA sites were considered resistant to three of the four modes of action tested.
What does this mean for growers?
The results from this study highlight differences in what is found in terms of genotypic resistance and that of phenotypic resistance, particularly for powdery mildew. In some cases the genotypic mutation has been found but the fungicide remains effective in the field. A new project has been developed to try and understand these differences to aid growers in spray selection whilst maintaining effectiveness.
It is concerning that resistance to these three diseases is occurring in WA and it is now an important time to revisit spray programs to determine whether a change is needed prior to the beginning of a new season.
Growers shouldn’t become complacent in regards to their fungicide regime and should routinely consult Croplife Australia’s resistance management information.
Now is an ideal opportunity to perform sprayer maintenance including nozzle replacement to improve the efficiency of your pesticide applications.
A list of registered fungicides permitted for use in Western Australia can be found in the Department of Agriculture and Food's Viticulture spray guide.
The full fungicide resistance final report can be found on the Wine Australia webpage.
New Regional Program approved
The funding is used to conduct extension activities that are deemed priorities by industry. Starting 1 July 2017, three activities will begin, these include:
- Identifying and understanding clonal material
- Evaluating and demonstrating alternative varieties
- Promoting innovative, regionally appropriate winemaking practices
Identifying and understanding clonal material
The WA Wine Industry Technical Committee identified a shortage in the current understanding and identification of potential superior clones suited to Western Australian conditions.
Anecdotally there are a number of sub-optimum clonal plantings of key varieties in WA which is restricting the quality potential of regional producers. There are a number of clones available through the State Germplasm Collection and private nurseries that have the potential to improve the future quality of WA wines. Enabling growers with an improved understanding of the impact of clonal selection on quality is crucial. Grape growers and winemakers need to be informed of clonal traits so they can match clone to site and to desired wine style.
A desktop review of the available clones of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Tempranillo in WA will be conducted. This will include detailing viticultural and wine quality attributes in addition to a list of superior clones which are not available in the state (identifying importation opportunities). This information will be made accessible to all industry stakeholders.
In addition, a forum will be held to compliment this packaged information with presenters from Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA), Western Australian Vine Improvement Association (WAVIA), private nurseries and growers sharing their experiences and technical information on specific clones. A wine tasting of experimental batches and commercial sized trials will provide an interactive component to the forum.
Fruit from at least three 'new' Shiraz clones will be made at a commercial winery and at DAFWA for comparison tasting and discussion at the forum.
Key objectives
- Improve industry understanding of the importance of clonal selection.
- Identification of superior clones of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Tempranillo suited to WA viticulture.
- Identify a deficiency in the State public and private nurseries of superior clones and prioritise their importation.
Details of workshops will be provided later in the year.
Evaluating and demonstrating alternative varieties
Approximately 80% of Western Australia's wine grape production comprises of five varietals (Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon). Reliance on such a small collection of varietals to sustain the profitability of the industry while considering challenges such as climate change and market trends, poses significant risk for the industry.
One tool available to growers to ensure optimum production while addressing issues such as increasing temperatures, compressed growing seasons, limited water availability is through varietal selection.
This project aims to change the way growers think when considering the varieties that best suit their region. Pairing varieties with changing climates has the potential to provide growers with the ability to improve their sustainability.
DAFWA will continue to collect vine performance data, small lot wine making and sensory analysis of approximately 10 varieties that are currently being grown at the WA Department of Education, Harvey Agriculture College in collaboration with Western Australian Vine Improvement Association (WAVIA). This activity will build on a 2016/17 Regional Program activity and will include another field walk to allow producers to inspect the characteristics of the varieties in the vineyard and taste the wines.
Additionally, two regional forums will be held to present the information collected over the two seasons, taste the wines from the evaluation block and also commercial examples of the varieties already being produced in WA.
Key objectives:
- Present a selection of alternative varieties that have shown high potential under WA growing conditions.
- Extend expert advice on technical aspects to these identified varieties complimented with an understanding of market trends.
- Provide a forum where producers can network with key stakeholders within the value chain specifically focused on exploring the growing alternative variety market.
Details concerning the field walk and the forums will be provided in the near future.
Promoting regional innovative winemaking practices
Regional winemakers can risk developing insular approaches to winemaking techniques, technologies and philosophies due to limited exposure to such aspects. This activity aims to promote regional collaboration and encourage innovation towards winemaking.
This will be achieved by conducting three regional wine tasting forums (Swan Valley, Margaret River and Great Southern) that focus on a specific white and red variety that is of significance to each of the respective regions. Regional winemakers will be invited to attend and bring samples of innovative approaches they have trialled themselves and present their findings.
Additionally, each forum will feature a guest winemaker from the eastern states who is considered as a leader/innovator in comparable regions from where the forum will be held. This will allow winemaker participants to discuss and taste wines made in ways that they may be unaccustomed to and encourage experimentation to improve their product quality and style.
Key objectives:
- To strengthen regional collaboration by winemakers sharing technical information with each other.
- To improve the quality of varietal wines through experimentation and diversification of styles.
- To bring an innovative and leading winemaker from outside the state to discuss and encourage alternative winemaking techniques and philosophies.
Details regarding these workshops will be provided in the near future.
DAFWA will be coordinating these activities, for further information contact Richard Fennessy, Research Officer, on +61(8) 9780 6219.
DAFWA vintage wrap up
This year two projects involved winemaking components with fruit sourced from the Geographe, Margaret River, Manjimup and Great Southern wine regions.
The national project ‘Assessing clonal variability in Chardonnay and Shiraz for future climate change’ has been extended by Wine Australia (funding body) until June 2018, so that further data can be collected on Chardonnay clones. Five clones of Chardonnay were harvested in Margaret River and six in the Great Southern. As the season was much cooler than previous years the clones where much later maturing as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Harvest dates of Chardonnay clones over four seasons
| Region | Clone | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| Margaret River | 76 | 18 February | 6 February | 10 February | 2 March |
| 95 | 13 February | 4 February | 15 February | 8 March | |
| 96 | 18 February | 6 February | 15 February | 8 March | |
| 277 | 18 February | 4 February | 15 February | 8 March | |
| Gingin | 13 February | 4 February | 10 February | 2 March | |
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| Great Southern | 76 | 5 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March |
| 95 | 5 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March | |
| 96 | 5 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March | |
| 277 | 5 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March | |
| Gingin | 12 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March | |
| I10V1 | 5 March | 24 February | 9 March | 31 March |
Applying an average to the picking dates for each of the regions, Chardonnay in 2017 was 23 days later in Margaret River while being 27 days later in the Great Southern. In addition to later ripening, disease pressure was also higher than previous years.
The wines from 2017 will be available to taste through a series of workshops scheduled for later in the year.
The second winemaking project was the evaluation of alternative varieties from a demonstration block at the WA College of Agriculture – Harvey (located in the Geographe wine region). This season’s plan was to evaluate four varieties, but DAFWA was able to pick and process 12 varieties. Table 2 lists the varieties, harvest date, Baume, pH and titratable acidity (TA). The varieties have been made into one or two styles dependant on suitability. Winemaking techniques such as skin contact, yeast selection, fermentation temperature and oak additions have been applied to enhance varietal expression.
Table 2. Harvest data from alternative variety evaluation
| Variety | Harvest date | Baume | pH | TA (g/L) |
| Scheurebe | 27 February | 11.3° | 3.14 | 7.1 |
| Savagnin | 27 February | 13.2° | 3.14 | 8.0 |
| Dolcetto | 27 February | 13.7° | 3.51 | 6.8 |
| Pignoletto | 1 March | 11.0° | 3.08 | 8.6 |
| Fiano | 7 March | 12.0° | 3.06 | 8.2 |
| Vermentino | 16 March | 12.0° | 3.23 | 6.2 |
| Tannat | 16 March | 12.7° | 3.37 | 7.3 |
| Sciacarello | 29 March | 13.4° | 3.30 | 6.0 |
| Arneis | 29 March | 10.1° | 3.23 | 5.9 |
| Carmenere | 11 April | 12.4° | 3.78 | 4.5 |
| Graciano | 11 April | 13.6° | 3.39 | 5.3 |
| Saperavi | 11 April | 13.7° | 3.33 | 6.5 |
In addition to these varieties, DAFWA has 20 vines of Gruner Veltliner at the department's Manjimup Research Facility which produced their first crop this season. Approximately 70kg of fruit was harvested (27 April) and has been made into wine. This wine and the other varieties from Geographe will be bottled by August, assessed at the Geographe Wine Show and made available to industry to taste at a workshop planned for later in the year.
Nutrient and irrigation assessments benefit Geographe growers
Funded by Wine Australia through their Regional Program initiative, this program enabled viticulture consultant Jim Campbell-Clause to visit 17 grape growers in the Geographe Region with the aim to:
- Demonstrate best practice when collecting soil, water and petiole samples for laboratory analysis
- Collect irrigation and nutrition records
- Collate the laboratory analyses with irrigation and nutrition records and compare results to industry standards; and provide feedback to the grower on their management practices.
A range of soil types and varieties were included in the study that involved vineyards in Harvey, Donnybrook and the Ferguson Valley. The most notable findings in regard to soil tests was a high proportion of sites with low pH, high soil copper levels and low sulphur levels. There was discussion about cation ion exchange capacity and the use of lime and gypsum to ameliorate problem soils.
The water analysis was surprising in that several sites had high chloride and/or high sodium levels.
Petiole levels of most nutrients were within expected ranges. Most of the discussion was around the levels of nitrate and nitrogen.
Nutrition application rates varied significantly across sites. Some growers applied little or no nutrition while others were applying up to 80kg/ha of nitrogen, 50kg/ha of phosphorus and 44kg/ha of potassium. There was discussion about natural nutrition sources and availability of nutrients.
Irrigation applied through the season was also variable with some growers applying no irrigation while some used up to 4700Kl/ha. On average growers used 1270Kl/ha annually. Growers were interested to learn about new more cost effective soil moisture monitoring technology and the applicability of this to their fertiliser and irrigation management practices.
Department amalgamation
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) will become part of the new Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development from 1 July 2017.
This new department will bring agriculture together with the staff and functions of the departments of Fisheries and Regional Development and nine Regional Development Commissions.
Leading the amalgamated department will be Ralph Addis, Director General of the Department of Regional Development. Ralph will be working closely with DAFWA’s Acting Director General Mark Sweetingham to ensure the vision for agriculture stays at the forefront of this new agency.
This will be a staged and smooth transition and there should be minimal disruption to DAFWA’s day-to-day operations and services. Legislative and regulatory requirements will continue to be met throughout this process.
This public sector renewal process represents a very significant structural change across government and for the individual agencies forming this new department.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will provide a stronger, more focused and unified service of Western Australia’s vital primary industries and regions.
DAFWA will continue to work closely with the WA wine industry and will keep our stakeholders and clients updated as we form the new department.
Future events
Margaret River Viticultural & Horticultural Trade Day
The Trade Day will feature a full schedule of trade exhibitions, demonstrations and a light lunch, along with informative presentations by expert speakers.
When: 9.30am – 3.30pm Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Where: Cowaramup District Social Club
More information: Can be found on the Cowaramup Agencies webpage.
AWRI regional roadshows
The AWRI will be touring the regions with their ‘Addressing regional challenges workshop’ series. The programs will cover topics of interest for both viticulturists and winemakers.
Mount Barker
When: 27 June 2017
Where: Arts House, West Cape Howe Wines, Mt Barker
Pemberton
When: 28 June 2017
Where: Pemberton School Camp, Pemberton
Margaret River
When: 29 June 2017
Where: Margaret River Education Campus, Margaret River
Swan Valley
When: 30 June 2017
Where: Faber Vineyard, Baskerville
Refer to the AWRI events page for event and program details.
Chardonnay and Shiraz clone regional tasting
Grape growers and winemakers interested in clonal variation of Chardonnay and Shiraz are invited to attend a tasting held by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. The tasting will consist of up to five clones of Chardonnay from the Riverland, Margaret River and Great Southern regions for comparison. Also included will be six clones of Shiraz sourced from the Barossa, Margaret River and Grampians wine regions.
The wines for this tasting have been supplied through the national research project assessing the clonal variability in Chardonnay and Shiraz for future climate change. Attendees will gain a better appreciation of how clonal selection can influence wine style and how clones perform in contrasting climates.
When: 2.00 – 3.30pm Thursday, 27 July 2017
Where: Margaret River Education Campus, 272 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River
Cost: Free
Registration: Spaces are limited to venue capacity, RSVP to Richard Fennessy.
ASVO Seminar
The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) is proud to announce that it will bring together the leaders in data, science, technology and engineering at its annual seminar in Mildura, Victoria in August 2017. The global technological landscape is changing and the wine industry is responding. Local and international guest speakers will explore the present and emerging opportunities for the wine industry in an engaging and interactive format.
The seminar program will be headlined by Dr Mike Briers AO, CEO of the Knowledge Economy Institute, and Dr Maria Paz Diago, of the Institute of Grapevine and Wine Sciences (ICVV) Universidad de La Rioja, Spain. Dr Briers was named in the Knowledge Nation 100 as Australia’s chief evangelist for big data and the internet of things (IoT) and brings his vision to empower Australia’s food industry to grow its comparative advantage through digital transformation. Dr Diago’s research is focused on the application of new technologies to the vineyard and she will share her insights into digital measurement of yield, canopy porosity, fruit composition and soil mapping and monitoring.
When: 2 – 3 August 2017
Where: Mildura, Victoria
More information: See the ASVO events page
Finlaysons Wine Roadshow 25 – The Changing Vinescape
This year Finlaysons has resolved to focus the Wine Roadshow on a number of the most significant issues currently facing the wine industry, including WET reform and unfair contracts and dealings.
They will be joined on the road by WFA, who will cover some serious practical trade related issues, and by Wine Australia, who will discuss how the $50m government grant is being spent and the $100 000 recurrent grant scheme.
The seminars will give you, not only a mass of information critical to your business, but also the opportunity to input into the outcomes.
When: 3.00 – 6.00pm, Friday 25 August 2017
Where: Watershed Wines, Margaret River
More information: http://www.finlaysons.com.au/wine-roadshow-25/