Pruning practices and their impact on grapevine trunk disease risk

Pruning practices significantly influence grapevine trunk disease (GTD) risk, with large, accumulated, or improperly positioned wounds serving as primary entry points for fungal spores. Avoiding high-wound practices like 'return cut' and managing pruning debris from symptomatic or dead vines is critical to reduce inoculum. Effective GTD management requires early intervention post-establishment, focusing on training systems, pruning timing, wound protection, and debris control. Visual guides demonstrate proper and improper techniques to minimize disease spread.