Evaluation of a Dynamic Model for Primary Infections Caused by Plasmopara viticola on Grapevine in Quebec

Downy mildew is major grape disease in several areas of the world. Recently, a dynamic model for primary infections of grapes by Plasmopara viticola, forecasting time of primary lesions emergence, was developed in Italy. The model simulates the development of predicted oospore cohorts during the primary infection period. The efficacy of this disease-cycle-based model was evaluated in eastern Canada by comparing the time of lesion emergence predicted by the model with field observations in 20 and 23 vineyards in 2008 and 2009, respectively. For each vineyard, one to 20 simulation runs were performed depending on the number of oospore cohorts expected to form, for a total of 545 simulations. The model evaluation was based on the true positive proportion (lesion emergence was predicted and observed) and the true negative proportion (lesion emergence was not predicted and not observed) which were 0.996, and 0.907, respectively. A total of 313 simulations resulted in no infection among which 284 corresponded to no lesion emergence. In only one situation, lesions were observed and not predicted by the model. On the contrary, in 29 simulations run, lesion emergence was predicted but not observed in the field. Further validation of this model is required, but the results of this study are encouraging and this model may be used to improve timing of fungicide sprays against P. viticola. Accepted for publication 17 November 2010. Published 26 January 2011.