290: Fighting Powdery Mildew with UVC Light

With fungicide resistance on the rise, grape growers are looking for new ways to manage powdery mildew. Lexi McDaniel, Viticulture Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, explores the science behind using UVC light to combat this grapevine disease by directly disrupting the DNA bonds needed for replication. She shares insights from her trials, including why the light must be applied at night, how often it needs to pass through the vineyard, and how this technique compares to traditional fungicide programs in both cost and effectiveness. Resources: 117: Grapevine Mildew Control with UV Light197: Managing the Sour Rot Disease Complex in Grapes219: Intelligent Sprayers to Improve Fungicide Applications and Save Money235: Battling Fungicide Resistance with Glove Sampling266: Soft Pesticide Trial: Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Botrytis, and Sour RotField-Scale Ultraviolet-C Light Applications to Manage Grapevine Powdery MildewGrapevine Powery Mildew UV-C InformationIntroducing UVC applications for powdery mildew control in grapevinesLexie McDanielNorth Carolina State ExtensionUltraviolet-C (UVC) Light Can Be a Powerful Tool Against Grapevine Powdery Mildew Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - DonateOnline Courses – DPR & CCA HoursSIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the yearVineyard Team – Become a Member