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December 21, 2020
By Lauren Paterson
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Grapevine red blotch disease spreads through vineyards and blotches leaves, shrinking wine and juice grape harvests.
Researchers at WSU’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center are studying how and why the grapevine red blotch virus, which causes the disease, spreads.
“We’re interested in finding out how the grapevines respond to the virus,” said Bhaskar Bondada, WSU associate professor.
Grape leaves work like solar panels, using sunlight to convert sugar into energy that fuels grape production.
Because leaves become less active when grapevines contract the red blotch virus, less sugar is moved through the plant, causing grapes to fade and grow more slowly. The virus also adversely affects pH, tannin levels, and other flavor characteristics of the fruit, and the final wine.