Short shoot syndrome of grapes in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Short shoot syndrome (SSS) is an increasingly important problem of grapevines in Oregon and, more recently, in Washington. Symptoms associated with SSS include puckered or malformed basal leaves, scarred and severely stunted shoot growth, and loss of grape clusters. In severe cases, complete crop loss results from abortion of affected shoots and clusters. Vine structure can be affected due to shoot dieback, possibly reducing crop quality. SSS symptoms started to emerge in Oregon during 2001. Symptoms have been observed in the Willamette, Rogue, and Umpqua valleys, and in the Walla Walla, Milton-Freewater, Yakima Valley, and Columbia Valley grape-growing areas of Oregon and Washington.