A SENIOR wine industry figure says it is “very likely” downy mildew would occur after areas of the region received sustained – and unseasonal – rainfall last Wednesday and Thursday. 

CCW viticulturalist Ashley Lipman said wet conditions meant the disease was expected to pose a risk throughout summer. 

“The wet, warm and very humid conditions which occurred through last Wednesday and Thursday were very likely to have been suitable for the development of downy mildew in most areas of the Riverland,” Mr Lipman said.  

“Many vine canopies remained wet for an extended period and even at this time of the year the disease… can still infect grape bunches and leaves. 

“If left unchecked it will cause crop loss and in extreme cases defoliation of the vine canopy.

“With the Bureau of Meteorology’s longer-term forecast of a wetter-than-usual season, many of our CCW growers have elected to take a precautionary approach and apply a downy mildew eradicant chemical and reset their vineyard downy mildew clock to zero, reducing the possibility of having to chase the disease at a later date.”