back to HYPP Pathology
home page


Stereum hirsutum (Willd.) Pers.

Mycologia, BASIDIOMYCOTINA, APHYLLOPHORALES, STEREACEAE .

Crops attacked: grapevine .

[R]Common Names :

Esca,

Identification, Description, Biology, Epidemiology, Treatement, Possible misleading, Images

[R]Identification
The fungus is visible at the surface of the plants on the dead branches, as sexual fructification (basidiocarps); internally, in transverse sections of the affected branches spongy tissue withmycelium can be seen. The fungus can be isolated from conidia, endoconidia and sclerotia, that are present in this tissue; it grows in artificial media.

[R]Description
Progressive reduction of the vegetative vigour with occurrence of chlorotic spots (in white varieties) and reddish spots (in red varieties), together with necroses of the fungus in the leaves and dark spots with brown-purple edge in the grapes (secondary symptoms); dark necroses in the xylem, starting at the medular tissue and presenting, in transverse section, a black limiting line with a whitish and spongy central part, showing sometimes longitudinal chinks at the surface of the affected organs (primary symptoms).

[R]Biology
The fungus survives for several years in the infected xylem spongy tissues under the form of endoconidia, macroconidia and sclerotia; these are released after decomposition of the tissues.
The infection takes place through the wounds by the inoculum carried by the wind; it can rarely occur from basidiospores of the surface fructifications which are usually sterile.
From infected wounds, the mycelium penetrates through the medulla and xylem, after the tissues being degraded by precursor fungi ( Eutypa lata and others) that destroy cellulose, hemicellulose and phenolic compounds. Later, the fungus may produce fructifications (basidiocarps) at the surface of the plant and branches affected or dead.

[R]Epidemiology
This fungus and Phellinus igniarius are regularly associated to the disease, predominating one of them according to the geographical region. P.e. in Bordeaux region of France and Italy predominates Phellinus , whereas in South of France, Stereum is usually detected.

[R]Treatement
Prophyllatic measures and chemical treatments during the winter; only arseniacal products are efficient but its use is restricted.

[R]Possible misleading
This fungus may be confused with Phellinus igniarius which causes identical symptoms and damages but its fructifications are completely different.

[R] Images

  1. Stereum hirsutum , Grapevine esca disease, Grapevine soft white rot (TOMAZ I., MA)
    Grapevine esca disease, Grapevine soft white rot Dead grapevine branch with fructifications (carpophores) of Stereum hirsutum .

To read this page in French

HYP3 on line : Species (scientific name), Diseases (common names), Glossary, Crops.

back to HYPP Pathology home page