Subject   Rupestris Stem Pitting Disease
Description  
Healthy (left) and RSP-positive trunks. Bark was removed to reveal pitting and grooving symptoms.
Rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (RSPaV) causes rupestris stem pitting disease of grapevines. This disease is normally of little consequence, although some reports suggest it causes reduced vigor or decline in vines grafted onto rootstocks with Vitis rupestris parentage. RSPaV is widely distributed in the world's vineyards and is allowed in most grapevine certification programs. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CFDA) grapevine Registration and Certification (R&C) program allows the virus to be present in certified stock but efforts are underway to eliminate it from the program. Efforts to eliminate the virus from planting stock have been impeded by unexplained spread of the virus in grapevine field plantings. There is some evidence that the virus is seed and/or pollen transmitted.

Specific leaf or wood symptoms do not show on most scion or rootstock cultivars. In St. George and a few other rootstock derived of V. rupestris parentage, the wood cylinder (stem) of the rootstock is covered with small pits that are visible with bark removal. If a healthy St. George rooting is inoculated by a chip-bud graft from an affected selection, pits most often develop below the graft insert downward into the root zone but not above the bud. Occasionally, pits and grooves expand and may encompass the whole wood cylinder.

See also Virus Diseases.

People   Deborah Golino
Adib Rowhani
Jerry Uyemoto
Publications  

Flaherty, D., Christensen, L., Lanini, W., Marois, J., Phillips, P., and Wilson, L. 1992. Grape Pest management 2nd Edition. Agricultural Sciences Publications, #3343, University of California, Oakland, CA.

Nelson-Kluk, S. 2000. RSP and the CA Grapevine R&C Regulations (PDF). Pages 6-7 in: FPMS Grape Program Newsletter, Foundation Plant Materials Service, University of California, Davis, CA 

Rowhani, A., Uyemoto, J.K., Golino, D., Martelli, G.P. 2005. Pathogen testing and certification of Vitis and Prunus species. Annual Review of Phytopathology 43: 261-278.

Pearson, R., and Goheen, A., 1988. Compendium of Grape Diseases. APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Weber, E., and Golino, D.A. Rupestris stem pitting disease. 1994. Practical Winery and Vineyard XV: 28-31.

Weber, E., Golino, D.A., and Rowhani, A., 2002. Laboratory testing for grapevine virus diseases (PDF). Practical Winery and Vineyard XXII (2): 13-26.

This website is a work in progress of the University of California (UC) Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANR) Integrated Grape Production Workgroup. It is designed to increase accessability to the work of UC researchers, including faculty, Cooperative Extension (CE) specialists, CE advisors, and staff. UC Researchers interested in contributing content are invited to contact Deborah Golino dagolino@ucdavis.edu to discuss possible contributions.