How do we control powdery mildew or prevent it from infecting the vines?
It is best to use preventative methods when you first plant a vineyard. Selecting an open site with direct sunlight and good drainage helps a lot. Planting rows in the direction of the prevailing wind and with adequate sunshine promotes good air circulation and faster drying of foliage and fruit. Selecting grape varieties with a high resistance to powdery mildew can also help. Throughout the year, managing the leafy canopy to reduce shading also increases air circulation. In an established vineyard, applications of fungicides (like sulfur) must be timed to interrupt the repeating cycle of infections, and a spraying control program is usually initiated while the vines are still dormant and continued until the berries have reached 10-12 Brix sugar readings. Powdery mildew is the most enduring and persistent disease problem faced by grape growers. Varieties of the Vitis Vinifera (wine grapes) and its hybrids are generally much more susceptible to powdery mildew than varieties indigenous t
