Saher Al-Halabi*⁽¹⁾, Walid Nafaa⁽²⁾ and  Bayan Mezher⁽³⁾

(1). Department of  Plant Protection Research, Agriculture Research Center in Swieda, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria

(2). Damascus University, Second Faculty of Agriculture, Swieda, Syria

(3). Pome and Grapevine Division, Sweida, GCSAR, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Saher Al-Halabi. E-Mail: alhalabi.m.saher@gmail.com)

Received:  30/12/2023                         Accepted:25/05/2024

Abstract: 

Dead-arm disease is one of the most important Grapevine Trunk Diseases. It effects on the quality and quantity of grape production, and leads to early death of infected bushes in vineyards. The aim of this study was to determine some characteristics of Xylem vessels, such as diameter and density of Xylem vessel in two V. vinifera cultivars “Al-Salti” and “Al-hulwani”, to determine their role in the occurrence of dead arm disease. The research was carried out at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center and vineyards within Swieda Governorate, during the season (2022-2023).The results showed that the diameters of large Xylem vessels were encouraging the occurrence and spread of infection in the studied varieties, as “Al-Salti” variety recorded an infection rate estimated at 100% with a large average diameter of Xylem vessels (195.14 µm) compared to “Al-Halwani” variety, which recorded an infection rate of 25% and a small average diameter (87.27µm). The frequency of vessels was inversely related to the average diameter of vessels for the varieties, where the frequency of vessels was recorded as (29.75 and 38.21 vessel/mm²), respectively. This is considered the first study to show the role and relationship of the diameter and density of Xylem vessels in grapevine to the occurrence and spread of dead-arm disease.

Keywords: grapevine, dead-arm, Xylem vessels, diameter, density.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF