Un modello dinamico per le infezioni ascosporiche del mal bianco della vite e la gestione dei trattamenti

Ascospores produced in cleistothecia (the sexual fruiting bodies) of Erisyphe necator (syn. Uncinula necator) (Schw.) Burr. are an important source of primary inoculum for powdery mildew disease on grapevine. Ascospores are repeatedly released from cleistothecia in spring and cause primary infections on leaves. Primary infections trigger powdery mildew epidemics, which are then driven by the asexual infection cycles. These asexual (or secondary) infections have been simulated by several epidemiological models. Nevertheless, no models evaluate the risk of ascosporic infection, in spite of the key role of ascospores in the pathogen life cycle. A mechanistic dynamic model was therefore developed for predicting the occurrence of ascosporic infections by E. necator in the vineyard. It was validated in field conditions and then used in a warning system aimed to rationalize the fungicide scheduling