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Grape cultivation in California

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The table grape and wine grape sectors are represented by the Table Grape Commission and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

Table production is most concentrated in three counties and somewhat in another two. Dollar value annually is $1,240 million in Kern, $682 in Tulare, $416 in Fresno, and in the top ten crops in Riverside and Madera. California's own consumption of table production grew from 1980 to 2001 from 1.8 to 3.5 kilograms (4.0 to 7.7 lb) per capita per year. Consumption here and throughout the country is so high that the country remains a net importer despite this state's production, which reached 71,000 short tons (64,000 t) in the 2015 table harvest.

During dormancy, UC IPM recommends pruning. UC IPM publishes recommendations for this and other tasks during dormancy. Although thinning is often proven to improve wine qualities in many areas, some reviewers note a lack of benefit in thinning table grapes in this state's vineyards.

Deyett et al., 2020 finds Proteobacteria are the most common components of the microbiomes of this crop in this state's soils.

This crop has also played a large part in farm labor relations in the state. The Delano grape strike began among table grape workers before spreading to other industries. See § Labor.

Diseases of grape

Disease information is provided by UC IPM.

Xylella fastidiosa was first discovered here in 1892 when Newton B. Pierce found Pierce's Disease in Los Angeles. Today it costs the state an estimated $100m per year. Because Vitis species native to the USA are tolerant to PD while the introduced European V. vinifera is very susceptible, Hewitt 1958 posited the Gulf Coastal Plain as the center of origin for the pathogen. However Nunney et al., 2010 demonstrates that the PD population of the USA is originally in Central America. Sisterson et al. 2020 finds that the southern San Joaquin Valley rarely has any X. fastidiosa prior to July. This suggests an entirely Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter vectored problem that has no (or very little) overwintering capacity. Consistent with this they also found that neonicotinoid applications tended to reduce PD incidence. See also § Pierce's Disease, § Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter and for a treatment see § Ozone.

Al Rwahnih et al., 2015 finds widespread Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV) among raisin and table accessions of propagation material in California. The virus population here has an unusually low amount of genetic diversity. Although not known outside of North America, Al Rwahnih et al. does find this virus in California material originating outside North America. See § Red Blotch Disease of Grapevine.

UCD's FPS performs disease testing, vinestock identification testing, and supplies vinestock. FPS is one of the few National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) members holding vinestock for grapes in the country. See also § Foundation Plant Services.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a good opinion of the state's phytosanitary certification system. As a result, CFIA's Plant Protection Division has approved California plant material for import.

Hoffman et al., 2011 surveys the Lodi AVA and finds that growers themselves (including those who also work as educators for other growers) are most central to the spread of management information. Those who are not themselves growers, but are full time educators, are less connected to the actual spread of information.

Powdery Mildew (Uncinula necator) is another costly disease here. PM cost the industry $239 million in 2015, including losses and treatment costs, according to the estimate of Sambucci et al., 2019. For decades both the programs of USDA ARS and SunWorld have prioritized breeding for resistance to this disease.

Afflictions in grapevine around the world are often treated by removal and replanting, and this is often used in this state's industry. Regrowth is slow and replant disease often results from this. Westphal et al., 2002 finds that regrowth is hampered by the soil microbiome in California's soils. They apply a supplemental plant growth-promiting rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatment using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and achieve quicker productivity recovery. This is one of the few studies in this technique and this area is understudied.

It is speculated that drought stress will increase fungal pathogen geographic range in the future around the world, but in this state this has already been observed.

Although famous for its devastation of strawberry gray mold affects table grape as well. Karabulut et al., 2003 finds it is an especially large part of post-harvest losses. They also describe common treatments and make recommendations See § Gray mold and for a treatment see § Ozone.

Grapevine Trunk Diseases are common in California. They are not caused by any one pathogen but are united by their similar symptomology in this part of the grape plant.

Botryosphaeria Grape Trunk Dieback diseases are common trunk diseases. In the southern parts of the state, a Botryosphaeria Dieback caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae is almost always the only trunk disease in this crop.

Eutypa dieback is another common trunk dieback here, caused by Eutypa lata. It was first found here by English et al., 1962 a few years after its discovery elsewhere. Travadon et al., 2011 finds that E. lata is an entirely or almost entirely sexual population here but asexual reproduction may be a rare occurrence. E. lata populations in California are shared between three hosts, this one, apricot and willow (Salix spp.). Travadon et al. 2015 finds high gene flow and an absence of differentiating alleles between populations on these hosts. (See also § Apricot.) Additionally they find no differentiation by geography.

Xiphinema index (the California Dagger Nematode, or just Dagger Nematode) is a common disease here. Although first discovered in this state it has spread throughout the world's vineyards.

Esca (Measles, Spanish Measles, Black Measles) is a basidiomycete disease caused by several species of the Fomitiporia. It is a common cause of economic loss in the state. Vasquez 2007 assessed losses $2,000 to $3,000 per hectare ($810 to $1,210/acre) for all afflictions called "Esca" in the state's vineyards.

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) was imported in infected 'Touriga National' in 1981 and maintained at UCD, but no epidemic has ever been documented from that contamination. The California epidemic began decades later. Al Rwahnih 2018 documents an active epidemic in the Napa Valley AVA and finds wide variation in occurrence per variety, from 8.7 to 100%.

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