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L Some Current Grape Recommendations
SAgricultural Research Center, Leesburg
/ IFAS, University of Florida i
Saturday, Feb. 24, 1979 -' f
The following pages include some of the latest. research findings and
recommendations concerning grape growing in Florida. Thi-s- information
will be updated from time to time and will be available for handout at
the Bunch Grape Field Day (July 19, 1979, 9:30 a.m.) and the Muscadine
Grape Field Day (August 16, 1979, 9:30 a.m.). Field days are open to
the public, and provide a good way to keep abreast of recent research
here and elsewhere that will affect grape culture, varieties, pest
control, etc.
Present staff working on grape research and stationed at Leesburg in-
clude Dr. W. C. Adlerz (Entomologist), Dr. D. L. Hopkins (Plant Path-
ologist), and Dr. J. A. Mortensen (Geneticist and Horticulturist).
Grape research is also undertaken in Food Science Department (Gaines-
ville) and Agricultural Research Centers in Monticello, Live Oak,
and Fort Pierce.
Leesburg ARC Research Report (WG 79-1)
100 copies
Insect Control on Florida Bunch Grapes (W. C. Adlerz)
Nany insects can be found on Florida bunch grapes. Some can be
severely damaging if they occur in large numbers and control may
be necessary. To keep spraying to a minimum, growers may wish
to become acquainted with insects having the greatest damage
potential, inspect vines frequently, and spray only when necessary.
Partial List of Florida Grape Insects
Class la Class 2a
Grape flea beetle Grapevine aphid
Grape leaf skeletonizer Sharpshooters
Seed chalcid Scale insects
Grape leafhopper Grape leaf folder (Class 1-2)
Crape root borer Achemon sphinx large caterpillars
Grasshoppers
Scarab beetles (Anomala, class 1-2)
Gall insects
Curculio
Twig borers
Fruit beetles, bees, and wasps
a Class 1 insects have a greater damage potential than Class 2
insects.
Grape Flea Beetle
Damage by grape flea beetles results mostly from adult feeding
on newly emerging buds in the spring, and adult and larval
feeding in the flowers. Spray when necessary.
Grape Leafhopper
Grape leafhoppers breed on grape plants. Adult and young leaf-
hoppers feed on the undersides of leaves, removing chlorophyll
and leaving pale feeding spots. Feeding spots may be so numerous
as to cause yellowed leaves and leaf drop. Excreta from these
insects may collect on the fruit which will then be spotted and
possibly covered with sooty mold. An application of insecticide
made prior to flowering and a second application two weeks later
will kill many overwintering adults and reduce the spraying
needed later in the year when the plants are larger. To keep
plants as vigorous as possible, grape leafhoppers should be
controlled.
Seed Chalcids
Seed chalcids will affect the following bunch grapes that are
adapted to Florida growing conditions: Blue Lake, Lake Emerald,
Stover, and Norris. It appears that Blue Lake is the most
susceptible variety. No information is available on susceptibility
of SV 12309. Where experience shows that seed chalcids are
abundant, an annual preventive spray program will be necessary.
Wasps about 1/8" long arrive at grapes in late April and continue
activity through May. Eggs are laid in the developing seed during
thi; period. Wasps complete their development to adult within
the seed. Adults bore out through seeds, pulp, and skin just
before grapes ripen, thereby ruining any infested grapes.
Complete crop loss is possible.
Malathion once weekly from the last of April through May (5
applications) gave good control experimentally in a location
where seed chalcids were damaging. Preventive spraying is
-r.commended because the wasps are hard to detect visually during
the egg laying period.
Grape Root Borer
The grape root borer is the larval form of a wasp-like moth.
Larvae tunnel into the larger roots and crown below the surface
of the soil. Vines show a general decline in vigor and may be
killed. Life history and control methods have not been worked
o~ut in Florida. Control is usually considered difficult.
Insecticides For Grape Insects
Amount per Days before Insects
Spray material gallon harvest1 controlled
Malathion 50-57% EC2 1 1/2 t4 3 Malathion
Malathion 25% WP3 4 T 3 aphids
Se:-ln 50% WP 2 T 0 scale insects
Sevin 80% WP 4 t 0 Sevin
Sevin 23-25% flowable 4 t 0 leafhoppers
fruit beetles
and wasps
Malathion or Sevin
caterpillars
flea beetles
] Minimum number of days between last application of the pesticide
and harvest.
EC = emulsifiable concentrate.
'h? = wettable powder.
4 t = teaspoon, T = tablespoon.
19Y7 Leafhopper Control Test (W. C. Adlerz)
Pur2ose: Comparison of times and frequencies of Sevin application
to control grape leafhoppers.
Procedure: Treatments were applied to 4-plant plots replicated
? times. The treatment schedule is listed in the table below.
Treatments were applied in 100 gallons of water per acre using
a Solo Mistblower Model 410.
Preliminary Results June 17
Treatments Rate/acre Leafhoppers/0l leaves
Sevin, pre-bloom + 1 month 1.0 1.67
Orthene, post bloom 0.5 1.67
Sevin, post-bloom + 1 month 1.0 3.50
Sevin, pre-bloom 1.0 6.00
Sevin, post-bloom 1.0 6.33
No treatment 14.17
Evaluated 70 days after pre-bloom and 50 days after post bloom
application.
Results 1976: Orthene and two new synthetic pyrethroid materials
gave excellent control of grape leafhoppers, but the effects of
Orthene were more persistent.
1976 Thrips Control Test: A synthetic pyrethroid material,
FMC 33297, gave excellent control of thrips. Guthion and
Orthene were very good and somewhat better than Cygon.
In a second test, Lannate was more effective than Diazinon,
Guthion, and Malathion. Guthion and Malathion gave good control.
Disease Control of Bunch Grape in Florida (D. L. Hopkins)
Disease control is an absolute necessity to successful bunch grape
production in Florida. The most severe fungal disease is an-
thracnose, which affects both foliage and fruit. There are 3
other fungal fruit rots black rot, ripe rot, and bitter rot -
that must be controlled. A number of leafspot diseases become
serious problems during late summer. These diseases must be
controlled to prevent premature defoliation in the fall, thus
assuring a stronger vine in dormancy and better yields the
following year.
A long growing season, high temperatures, abundant rainfall,-and
high humidity make grape diseases very difficult to control in
Florida. Therefore, a vigorous spray program must be started in
the spring when buds are 2-6 inches tong and continued throughout
the season. Fungicides should be applied every l0-14 days until
a week before harvest, and every 3-4 weeks from harvest through
November or until dormancy.
The fungicides Manzate D, Dithane M-22 Spe.atal, Captan, Phaltan,
and Benlate are effective in controlling grape diseases in
Florida. In recent tests, Benlate and Captfan haze been especially
effective in controlling black rot, thus increasing marketable
yields. A spreader-sticker may be included in the spray. A
winter spray of lime sulfur, 2 qts. of 26-31% solution per 100
gallons of water (1 1/4 tablespoons/gal) is suggested for
anthracnose control.
hunFicide
Amt./100 gal
Der acre
Amt. per
pal.
Days before
harvest
Manzate D
Dithane M-22 Special
Ca.ptan
Phaltan
Benlate
1 1/2 lb.
1 1/2 lb.
2 lb.
2 lb.
1-1 1/2 lb.
1 1/2 TBS2
1 1/2 TBS
2 TBS
2 TBS
1-1 1/2 TBS
SThis is the recommended minimum number of days between last
application of fungicide and harvest.
TBS = tablespoon.
1977 Fungicide Test
Purpose: To evaluate various dormant sprays for the control of
Crape foliar diseases.
Procedure: The trial area consists of 5 rows of 'F4-36' with
20-25 plants per row. Treatments were applied on February 28
in 100 gallons of water using a Solo Mistblower Model 410. The
dormant sprays were applied to thoroughly wet all wood.
Beginning March 24, Benlate at 1.0 lb/100 gal has been applied
*:t approximately 3-week intervals to the entire test area.
." eliminary Results:
Dormrant treatments
(A) Benlate
(D) Liquid Lime-Sulfur
/) Tribasic Copper Sulfate
D) Difolatan*
(F) Liquid Lime-Sulfur
(C) Untreated
Rate/
100 gal.
1.5 lb.
8.0 gal.
8.0 lbs.
5.0 pts.
2.5 qts.
Anthracnose ratings
% infected
canes 0-5 rating
0.7
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.7
2.1
: Not registered for use on grapes.
!"ierce's Disease Control (D. L. Hopkins)
Pierce's disease is the principal factor limiting the production
of grapes in Florida. The disease was long thought to be caused
by a virus but has been shown in recent years to be caused by a
small bacterium resembling a rickettsia. Whereas the only current
control of Pierce's disease is resistance, the discovery that the
causal agent is a bacterium increases the prospects for chemical
control of the disease with antibiotics.
---YI ~ Y
'tibiotic tests on 'Schuyler' grapevines: On untreated 'Schuyler'
:;rapevines symptoms of Pierce's disease developed on 40% of the
vines in the second season, and by the fourth year all of the vines
had the disease. Weekly sprays of 500 ppm oxytetracycline delayed
Pierce's disease development until the third year. Symptoms
remained mild in this treatment throughout the four-year test as
only 8% of these vines died. A. monthly 500 ppm drench treatment
delayed symptom development only 6 months. Biweekly sprays of
1000 ppm also only delayed symptoms for 6 months, but when changed
to weekly sprays 1000 ppm oxytetracycline seemed to stop further
disease development completely.
In summary foliar sprays of antibiotics appear to be more effective
than drenches. With foliar sprays, concentrations of at least
500 ppm were needed, and weekly application was best. More work is
needed on rates and timing of antibiotic sprays before any practical
control of Pierce's disease is possible.
Weed Control in Florida Vineyards (J. A. Mortensen)
(ne of the secrets of successful grape growing is an integrated
program of weed control involving mechanical tools, herbicides
.:nd mulches. Weed control between vine rows is much easier to
ccomplish than that under the trellis itself. Herbicides are
-3'rely used for weed control between rows since disking, rotbtilling,
,.r mowing are more practical and less expensive both in young vine-
ya.rds and mature vineyards. The discussion below concerns control
)f *weeds in the vine row where disking and mowing are not possible.
Young vineyards. Mulching with 2 to 3 inches of oak leaves
ar-ound each newly set grapevine helps control weeds and conserve
soil moisture. Hoeing of weeds in small vineyards is usually
replaced by Paraquat spraying or in-and-out rototilling, or both,
in vineyards one acre or larger. Paraquat kills all the leaf
-urface it covers, including grapevine foliage. A tractor-
mounted boom with a nozzle surrounded by a cone-shaped shield
to prevent drift of spray in windy weather is effective in
directing the material to a band along each side of the row
without getting on the grape plants. Sufficient overlap of spray
bands between vines in the row is essential to avoid leaving a
i-:een strip of weeds under the trellis wire. The in-and-out vine--
yard rototiller (Hester Plow Company, Lake City) is mounted on the
:side of the tractor and operates from the power take-off. It is
very effective in controlling both broadleaf and grassy weeds in
the vine row. Dalapon herbicide controls grassy weeds. Apply in
April or May, or when the grass is green and actively growing.
Avoid spraying the grapevine foliage or on bare ground.
Mature vineyards (3 years or older). Karmex (Diuron) herbicide
is an effective pre-emergence herbicide if applied once a year,
usually in March. Weed growth occurring in the rows in mid- to
late summer can be burned down with Paraquat herbicide, hoed, or
In-and-out rototilled. Dalapon is effective on grassy weeds such
as Bermuda grass sod. Do not mix Dalapon with other herbicides
In the spray tank. Karmex and Paraquat may be mixed where both
a pre-emergence and "burn-down' of existing weeds are needed at
o)ce. Thorough cleaning of spray tank, hose, and nozzles by
;raining, flushing, and cleaning with detergent are recommended
following the use of herbicides. Roundup (Glyphosate) has alro
-:ven excellent control of weeds but is not cleared for use on
bearing grapevines yet.
Herbicidesuded for grapes
Product
Paraquat
;-alapon1
iarm;:x 80W
I Luron )
Rates used
1 qt./50 gal.
4 tsp./gal.
5 lbs./50 gal.
0.1 lb./gal.
3 lbs./sprayed
acre
2 tsp./gal./
100 sq. ft.
Amt. of X-77
Spreader
4 oz./50gal.
1/2 tsp./gal.
4 oz./50 gal.
1/2 tsp./gal.
None required
Specifications
Wet above-ground portion
of weeds whenever needed
(3 to 5 times a year)
Wet leaf surface when
grass is actively growing
(twice each year, 3
weeks apart)
Wet surface of ground
evenly in a band on each
side of row (once each
year, usually March).
Vines must be 3 yrs. old
and 1 1/2 inches trunk
diameter
SCaution: muscadine grapes are subject to injury by Dalapon if
the ground is bare and the material is taken up by the vine roots.
i"-gation of Grapes (J. A. Mortensen)
research on irrigation of grapes in Florida has been needed for
.o:nc time in order to determine whether the improvement in -ine
. '.cwh, yield, and quality is sufficient to justify the cost o'
irc'igating. Beginning in June 1976 we now have a one-acre
.'..sation trial on muscadine grapes and a half-acre trial on
'i!ch grapes. The treatments are (1) Microjet irrigation plots
.. '2) Non-irrigated check plots. No data are available at
. J time, but the Microjet system will be demonstrated during
;iL. vineyard tour. A marked response to irrigation in shoot
j-owth and yield is evident in 1977. All irrigation equipment,
includingg the filter, was donated by the Southern Citrus Nurseries
Corporation, Dundee, Florida, who sell Microjet systems.
Fertilizer N-P--K Factorial Experiment (J. A. Mortensen)
A ratio of 3:1:2 or 3:1:41 was apparently superior to the 1:1:1
ratio of N:P:K presently recommended for grapes. However,
differences wcru not statistically nirlniflcant for yields or
weight of dormant pruning wood. Under conditions of no
irrigation, growth and yield of Blue Lake and Norris bunch
grapes were greater where clay was 2.5 to 4 ft below surface
than wh'r -e it was 5 or more feet deep.
Marketing Florida Bunch Grapes as Fresh Fruit (L. H. Stover)
Tests of marketing Florida bunch grapes through central Florida
retail outlets were conducted in 1973, 1975 and 1976. The
predominant variety in these tests has been Stover (light green
to golden color), but limited amounts of blue. and red-skinned
grapes have also been sold. Grapes have been marketed through
one large retail chain (Pantry Pride) and through several smaller
local stores. Retail price has ranged from 39 to 49 cents per
ound. in packaged cartons of about one pound. Grapes were
marketed over a period of 3 weeks, usually prior to the
availability of full-ripe Thompson Seedless grapes from Arizona
and California. Grapes were sold to the stores at 31 cents per
round in 15--pound cartons. The stores were pleased to get the
grapes as offered and had good success in selling them. Blue
and red grapes appeared to be more popular than golden ones.
The State University System of Florida offers educational programs
to all people without regard to race, color, sex or national origin.
AH EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
HISTORIC NOTE
The publications in this collection do
not reflect current scientific knowledge
or recommendations. These texts
represent the historic publishing
record of the Institute for Food and
Agricultural Sciences and should be
used only to trace the historic work of
the Institute and its staff. Current IFAS
research may be found on the
Electronic Data Information Source
(EDIS)
site maintained by the Florida
Cooperative Extension Service.
Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University
of Florida
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