🦠 Anthracnose (grape)

Anthracnose is a fungal disease of grapes. It is caused by a fungus that attacks leaves, young shoots and berries. It is also known as "bird's-eye rot" because of its characteristic spots. It is easy to spot. Dark sunken spots with a pale centre and a dark rim appear on the berries. On leaves the spots are small, on shoots they are elongated and crack. Infected berries harden, develop poorly and may shrivel. The crop falls as a result. The fungus likes warmth and moisture. In spring rain spreads the spores, and the disease develops in wet, warm seasons. So growers cut out affected shoots, air the vine and treat the vines with fungicides. Some varieties are more resistant, which also helps. Anthracnose belongs to the group of vine diseases along with powdery mildew, downy mildew and grey rot. In modern vineyards it is rarer than before, because vines are well cared for.