How and which vine we can heal?
Curative use of INHIBO HBF - treatment of vines infected with GTD diseases
Recognizing symptoms in the crown and cross-section of the vine shows us how much the disease has affected the vine and
which can be cured. Procedure: cut the vine 20 – 40 cm higher than the place of grafting, especially above the thickening with buds or an shoot without symptoms. If we see a part without symptoms on the cross-section (completely
bright cells on the cross-section, except for the heart, which is brown, 1 – 7 mm), coat the fresh cut with INHIBO HBF paste in
a thin layer and such a vine can be cured. If we see symptoms of the disease (brown cells – suspicious), then the vine cannot
be saved, because the disease has penetrated to the roots and the reason is that we waited a long time with the reaction.
Curative use of INHIBO HBF - treatment of vines infected with GTD diseases
How and which vine we can heal?
Recognizing symptoms in the crown and cross-section of the vine shows us how much the disease has affected the vine and which can be cured. Procedure: cut the vine 20 – 40 cm higher than the place of grafting, especially above the thickening with buds or a shoot without symptoms. If we see a part without symptoms on the cross-section (completely bright cells on the cross-section, except for the heart, which is brown, 1 – 7 mm), coat the fresh cut with INHIBO HBF paste in
a thin layer and such a vine can be cured. If we see symptoms of the disease (brown cells – suspicious), then the vine cannot be saved, because the disease has penetrated to the roots and the reason is that we waited a long time with the reaction.
Picture 1, 2, 3: Symptomps of GTD on cross-section.
Picture 4: Without symptoms
Picture 5: Young shoot on the vine
The role of Inhibo HBF herbal paste
A place without symptoms of the disease does not mean that the disease is not in the plant, therefore we use INHIBO HBF herbal paste, which additionally destroys the cellular plants and the disease – biochemotherapy.
Inhibo HBF – development of exudate, sporulation, after dilution
Description of Inhibo HBF: It is possible to see exudate and spores on the surface for a certain period since only natural products were used, allowing useful bacteria and fungi to develop.
Composition: Inhibo HBF contains: a special carrier, a specific concentration of plant phenols, beneficial microorganisms and their toxins. A special carrier ensures the vitality and stability of the components over a longer period in all climatic conditions.
Method of preparation: before use, Inhibo HBF must be diluted with water or Kombano BFL, mixed to obtain a thick liquid form, which is applied to a fresh cut with a brush (microorganisms consume water and oxygen).
Inhibo HBF is formulated by nature and enhanced by science
Mode of action Inhibo HBF plant past
After application Inhibo HBF destroys cellular plants and diseases in a period of 3 – 30 days and at a depth of 0,5 to 30 cm, depending on the time of application, the thickness of the applied layer and plant activity.
Curative application of Inhibo HBF – treatment of vines infected with GTD diseases is crucial because we can cure almost any vine as soon as we see the symptoms in spring and summer.
Inhibo HBF herbal paste is registered as an organic fertilizer and has been on sale for four years.
Important! Regardless of whether we proceed with the treatment, the infected vines must be cut IMMEDIATELY, because they are the source of infection for the entire vineyard.
Reasons why we can cure infected vines
- Esca, Eutipa, Phytoplasma are AIRBORNE GRAPEVINE TRUNK DISEASES. The beginning of the infection is on the above-ground parts of the plant and the disease descends towards the roots.
- INHIBO HBF plant paste is special product from Faget d.o.o. firm from Croatia, which we use to treat vines.
- Reaction time, immediately after the appearance of the first new symptoms is crucial for a high percentage of cured vines
- It is common for GTD to occur only on one shoot and with a timely reaction and application of Inhibo HBF, it is possible to save the plant and grape production. If we see new symptoms on the plant in the summer, almost every vine can be cured. If we see the symptoms on a shoot close to the ground, we cannot cure such a vine
Examples of cured vines
Example 2: Authentic background roofs of houses
Notes: Curing young infected vines aged 1-2 years is rarely possible.
Treatment of vineyards where infection is visible above 30% is not recommended, because there are certainly still infected vines on which we do not see symptoms. The reason is that such a vineyard requires the same agrotechnical measures, but the harvest is reduced in advance by 30-40%. Sometimes it is possible to cure significantly infected vines if the disease has not reached the root.
Planting a new vine in an old vineyard
Planting a new plants is risky because it is the most sensitive to Phytoplasma, due to the small number of shoots.
Infection via residual roots certainly exists. As long as the remaining roots of the infected vine are alive, the Phytoplasma is also alive in it. In the case of Esca and Eutipa, the situation is even more complicated, because they can live as saprophytes.There is reasonable suspicion that it is possible to plant infected vine graft.
We often see symptoms of Phytoplasma two months after planting.
GTD symptom on the graft ⤵
GTD symptom on the cross-section ⤵
Young plants are often infected in the first or second year ⤵
The grafts planted in the old vineyard do not grow, the same grafts in the new area (right) ⤵
If we assume that the planting material is not infected, infection of the young planted vine is possible:
- via residual roots of the infected vine – root bridge. As long as the residual roots are alive, the pathogens causing GTD are also alive, especially the agents Esca and Eutypa which can live saprophytically
- infection with the carrier of Phytoplasma. A young plant has a small shoot, the disease quickly affects the entire plant. It is possible that the vector population is highest in grass, as wind, rain and currents of atomizer air carry the insects to the ground.
Application of insecticides, biophenols and other preparations must be precise. Very little spray remains on the young plant with one shoot. Spraying with an atomizer gives an even worse effect. The canopy of the first row is a barrier that must hold the spray and the young plant has a small canopy.
In the first three years, it is necessary to additionally treat the young plants in order to prevent Phytoplasma infection.
Planting is not recommended for several years after removing the infected vine. If it is still planned to be planted in the same year, it is necessary to disinfect the pit with 1 kg of organic fertilizer containing live microorganisms and 0.5 L of Kombano BFL liquid formulation of plant phenols in 10 L of water, application 1-2 L / pit
ESCA AND EUTYPA – preventive use of Inhibo HBF
Esca disease and Eutipa life cycles are inextricabily linked to specific viticultural techniques, particulary dormant pruning. More specificaly, larger wounds from pruning on the trunk are the main entry point. Application of Inhibo HBF plant paste during dormant pruning, or maximum 15 – 30 days after pruning completely prevents new infections It is necessary to coat all large wounds on the vine with a thin layer of Inhibo HBF paste, which means very precise application without wastage. If we do such preventive protection, we will see the symptoms of Esca and Eutypa only on the vines that we forgot to remove and which have been infected since last years. In experiments at 26 locations in 2021-2023, the effectiveness of the application of Inhibo HBF was confirmed. Usually 4 – 5 kg of Inhibo HBF is enough for 1 hectare, because not every vine will have a big wound.
The pathogens of Esca and Eutypa begin the infection as parasites through a living cell, but can live as saprophytes in a dead cell infected plants that we left in the vineyard. Such vines are a permanent source of infection for the entire vineyard.
It is not well known how soon after infection Eska and Eutypa penetrate the vine and how deep. How quickly the plant closes wounds at certain temperatures ? Is infection possible a month after pruning? Some scientific works state that infection is possible 4-6 weeks after pruning, and the movement of the disease in the plant is 1-2 cm per year. How many spores does one infected vine have? At what distance can the spores infect the vine?
At low temperatures, neither the plant nor the disease is active and it is possible that the disease is on the surface of the cut for a long time (organisms without their own constant temperature). In our research, we noticed that the movement of Eska in the plant is much faster and we see symptoms after 4-5 months, even after a month, which shows the symptom only on one shoot.
Movement of GTD in the grapevine
We analyzed five vines with visible symptoms. We are not sure when the infection occurred.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
It is possible to reduce the number of vines infected with Esca and Eutipa over the years by investing additional work and knowledge. The biggest problem is leaving infected vines in the vineyard. Even a partially infected vine is a source of infection. All the vines that we can not heal, need to be removed and taken away from the vineyard.
Application of Inhibo HBF herbal paste is of great importance and is one of the moments in the fight against GTD. The long-term solution for the control of Eska, Eutipa is the application of organic fertilizers with living microorganisms.
It is possible that in the 40 or so years of chemicalization, we have significantly disturbed the relationship of microorganisms in the soil. Now, it will take us a long time to restore the biological balance.
According to the available literature, Esca disease is caused by several fungi and possibly bacteria. Most infections occur during winter pruning, but also in vegetation after shoot topping, when the machine leaves large wounds. The tips actually look torn, not cut. It is especially necessary to protect young vines when in the second and third year we remove unnecessary shoots and leave wounds close to the ground. By preventive application of INHIBO HBF, i.e. by coating all major wounds in pruning, it is possible to prevent all new infections.
Eutypa dieback. Pathogen – Eutypa lata. Most infections occur during winter pruning. By preventive application of INHIBO HBF, i.e. by coating all major wounds in pruning, it is possible to prevent all new infections.
For successful preventive protection against Esca and Eutypa, it is necessary in the winter period:
- try to cure all infected vines with Inhibo HBF herbal paste. Curative use of Inhibo HBF !
- the vines that we cannot cure must be immediately removed with the roots and put organic fertilizer with living beneficial microorganisms in that place
- immediately during pruning, cover all large wounds on the vine with Inhibo HBF to prevent new infections
- arrange for all owners of an area to take all necessary measures
- the long-term solution is the application of organic fertilizers with beneficial microorganisms so that we restore the balance – soil revitalization
Preventive wound protection is possible by spraying immediately after pruning with: Trichoderma spp, Boric acid, Plant phenols 3% (Kombano BFL) + Na2CO3 + 10 H2O 1% + glue i.e. wetting agent, but after heavy rain it is necessary to repeat the treatment. Another problem is what microorganisms need certain temperatures for their activity and they hardly survive strong insolation because they originally live in the soil. In Inhibo HBF paste, microorganisms live in their natural habitat.