The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is boosting its efforts to help prevent botrytis bunch rot disease from being a major production constraint at Tasmanian vineyards.
TIA recently produced an instructional video that demonstrates how to assess botrytis disease in a vineyard. It was published online, on social media and distributed to Tasmanian wine growers.
The project team, led by TIA Professor Kathy Evans, is working closely with wine producers to design and conduct on-vineyard trials to better manage botrytis bunch rot disease.
The videos are another tool to help wine producers assess botrytis in their own trials.
"The instructional video is the latest step we've taken to help wine growers in their battle against botrytis," Professor Evans said.
"We've been working extensively with industry to address the problem of botrytis bunch rot in an effort to boost productivity and profitability for wine growers.
"We hope the video plays an important role in helping them to assess botrytis in their vineyard, especially when testing practices for improved disease management."
The video is supported by extensive resources to help wine growers and these are available on the botrytis project page on the TIA website.
TIA received a grant from the Tasmanian Government's Agricultural Development Fund in 2023 to deliver the Botrytis Project .
Professor Evans said the trial had been designed to work within existing operations of a vineyard while allowing producers to access expert help from TIA researchers.
"Producers were invited to select a botrytis management practice and then test it to find out what works best for their site. The TIA project team then supported the producer during the trial including the collection and interpretation of data," she said.
Wine producers from nine Tasmanian vineyards participated in the first season of the trial, which came to an end last year.
The second season is underway with 11 vineyards taking part including Northern Tasmanian wine grower Andrew Pirie.
"The reason I think this collaboration is so important is that when we are on our own, we try things in an undisciplined way, reach a conclusion and then move on without knowing what fixed it. So, I think a more orderly trial approach like this is very beneficial," Mr Pirie said.
Results are shared among other participants and the broader wine producing sector to highlight successes and practical implementation.
